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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: track · saw · stem · rash · hide · arm · board · pit

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. saw — the tool
  5. board — to get on
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. stem — to come from
  8. track — to keep track
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. track — a song
  12. rash — a series
  13. rash — hasty
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. pit — a hole
  18. saw — the tool
  19. board — a committee
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. track — a path
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. pit — in a race

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