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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: foot · trunk · patient · temple · arm · perch · vault · spell

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. spell — magic
  7. perch — the fish
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. spell — letters
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. foot — a measure
  17. spell — a short time
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. vault — a safe
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. foot — 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