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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 120 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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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: object · mark · arm · content · bass · stick · temple · board

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. content — the amount
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. mark — a grade
  5. board — to get on
  6. object — to protest
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. bass — low music
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. object — a thing
  12. content — happy
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. board — a committee
  16. mark — a trace
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. bass — the fish
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. object — an aim

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