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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: jam · rock · ruler · wave · bear · hand · foot · arm

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. rock — a stone
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. hand — in cards
  7. rock — music
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. bear — the animal
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. foot — a measure
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. hand — help
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. bear — the animal
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. ruler — for measuring

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