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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. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. rest — a break
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. mark — a trace
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. can — a tin
  8. mark — a grade
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. can — a tin
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. rash — a series
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. can — to be able to
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. rest — what's left
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. rash — hasty
  24. arm — a part of something

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