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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.

Make a worksheet

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: key · lean · spell · toast · arm · face · nail · trunk

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. face — to point toward
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. key — in music
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. spell — a short time
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. spell — letters
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. key — the most important part
  13. toast — bread
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. face — to confront
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. lean — to bend
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. lean — thin
  22. spell — magic
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. face — part of the head

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