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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: temple · object · rest · dip · cell · spell · arm · leaves

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. He was locked up in a ________________.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. cell — a phone
  3. rest — what's left
  4. cell — in biology
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. rest — what's left
  7. dip — to sink
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. object — a thing
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. spell — letters
  14. spell — magic
  15. cell — in a prison
  16. object — to protest
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. spell — a short time
  19. rest — a break
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. temple — side of the head

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