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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: nail · cue · swing · rash · track · foot · arm · cabinet

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. David sat on the ________________.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. swing — in golf
  4. track — to keep track
  5. rash — hasty
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. foot — a measure
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. track — a song
  11. swing — music
  12. cue — for pool
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. cue — a hint
  17. track — a path
  18. cue — a signal
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. swing — to play on
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. cabinet — ministers

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