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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. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. tube — the underground
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. track — to keep track
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. track — a song
  15. face — to point toward
  16. tube — a container
  17. track — a path
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. dip — to sink
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. face — to confront
  23. vault — a safe
  24. face — part of the head

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