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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: foot · arm · bass · wave · jam · roll · mug · nail

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. mug — a cup
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. roll — a cake
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. mug — to rob
  10. roll — a list
  11. bass — the fish
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. mug — a face
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. foot — a measure
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. bass — low music

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