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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: bore · calf · tube · hide · rest · charge · bank · arm

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. rest — what's left
  3. bank — for money
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. charge — a price
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. bank — for money
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. bank — of a river
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. rest — a break
  13. tube — the underground
  14. tube — a container
  15. charge — electricity
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. bore — to drill
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. bore — to tire
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. charge — in control
  24. rest — what's left

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