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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: can · season · foot · swing · bowl · arm · temple · rest

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. David sat on the ________________.
  5. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. rest — a break
  4. swing — to play on
  5. swing — in golf
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. season — in sport
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. rest — what's left
  13. can — a tin
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. can — a tin
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. can — to be able to
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. rest — what's left
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. foot — a measure
  23. swing — music
  24. bowl — to roll

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