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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: lie · fine · jam · wave · arm · dip · nail · game

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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. jam — in traffic
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. game — a match
  7. lie — to recline
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. fine — high quality
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. game — wild animals
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. dip — to sink
  24. fine — all right

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