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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: arm · toast · calf · rest · craft · tube · rash · bass

  1. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. rest — what's left
  3. rash — a series
  4. tube — a container
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. bass — the fish
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. bass — low music
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. rash — hasty
  13. toast — bread
  14. rest — a break
  15. tube — the underground
  16. rest — what's left
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. craft — boats
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. arm — part of the body

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