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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: leaves · saw · arm · foot · club · mug · swing · coach

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. David sat on the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. club — for dancing
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. swing — in golf
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. foot — a measure
  11. club — a group
  12. mug — a face
  13. club — for golf
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. mug — to rob
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. saw — the tool
  19. saw — the tool
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. swing — music
  24. swing — to play on

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