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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.

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 · arm · face · mouse · mate · wax · club · nail

  1. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. club — a group
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. club — for golf
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. face — to confront
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. mate — a friend
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. wax — to grow
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. club — for dancing
  19. face — part of the head
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. mate — a partner
  23. mate — to breed
  24. mouse — the animal

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