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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. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. bear — the animal
  7. rash — a series
  8. swing — music
  9. bore — to drill
  10. key — in music
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. bear — the animal
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. bore — to tire
  17. key — for a lock
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. swing — to play on
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. rash — hasty
  24. key — the most important part

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