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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: ruler · key · arm · face · trunk · suit · cell · nail

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. He was locked up in a ________________.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. cell — in a prison
  6. face — to point toward
  7. cell — in biology
  8. suit — clothes
  9. key — in music
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. key — the most important part
  13. suit — to fit
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. cell — a phone
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. key — for a lock
  20. face — part of the head
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. face — to confront

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