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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.

Make a worksheet

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: file · key · kick · fine · bass · staff · arm · saw

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. kick — a thrill
  4. staff — a stick
  5. key — the most important part
  6. file — a tool
  7. file — a line of people
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. saw — the tool
  10. file — a document
  11. bass — the fish
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. kick — with a leg
  14. key — for a lock
  15. staff — employees
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. saw — the tool
  19. key — in music
  20. staff — employees
  21. bass — low music
  22. fine — all right
  23. fine — high quality
  24. kick — in football

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