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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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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: rash · staff · bark · pit · toast · arm · stand · temple

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. pit — a hole
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. staff — employees
  5. rash — a series
  6. stand — to bear
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. pit — in a race
  9. bark — a dog's sound
  10. rash — hasty
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. staff — employees
  16. toast — bread
  17. bark — of a tree
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. staff — a stick
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. bark — to shout
  24. stand — on your feet

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