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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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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: degree · calf · charge · arm · lie · nail · rush · rock

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. charge — electricity
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. charge — a price
  6. degree — from a university
  7. rush — hurry
  8. degree — temperature
  9. charge — in control
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. rock — music
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. degree — an amount
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. lie — to recline
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. rock — a stone

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