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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. club — a group
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. staff — employees
  6. date — the fruit
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. mark — a trace
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. staff — employees
  11. mark — a grade
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. bass — the fish
  17. bass — low music
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. club — for golf
  20. staff — a stick
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. club — for dancing
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. arm — part of the body

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com