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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: arm · cabinet · foot · bowl · stand · chip · wax · rock

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. chip — to eat
  4. rock — a stone
  5. wax — to grow
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. foot — a measure
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. stand — to bear
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. chip — for betting
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. rock — music
  24. foot — 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