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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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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: face · bank · cue · bay · snap · saw · nail · arm

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. cue — a hint
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. bank — of a river
  5. face — to confront
  6. saw — the tool
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. bank — for money
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. cue — for pool
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. saw — the tool
  19. face — to point toward
  20. face — part of the head
  21. cue — a signal
  22. snap — to click
  23. bank — for money
  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