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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 function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  3. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  24. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. race — a contest
  3. race — humankind
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. spring — a coil
  8. mark — a trace
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. stand — to bear
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. race — the arms race
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. mark — a grade
  19. press — a publisher
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. press — to push
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. spring — the season
  24. spring — of water

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