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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 120 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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. charge — a price
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. charge — in control
  12. charge — electricity
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. band — a music group
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. band — a ring
  17. mark — a trace
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. mark — a grade
  21. plane — a tool
  22. stand — to bear
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. band — a rubber band

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