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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. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  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. arm — a part of something
  2. bound — tied together
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. dip — to sink
  5. bound — obliged
  6. bulb — for light
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. bank — of a river
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. kick — in football
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bound — certain
  14. kick — a thrill
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. bank — for money
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. kick — with a leg
  21. bank — for money
  22. date — the fruit
  23. dip — to dunk
  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