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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 120 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: arm · kick · rash · lean · nail · last · key · fine

  1. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. fine — all right
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. lean — thin
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. key — in music
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. fine — high quality
  15. kick — a thrill
  16. last — finally
  17. key — for a lock
  18. key — the most important part
  19. lean — to bend
  20. last — to go on
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. rash — a series
  23. rash — hasty
  24. last — final

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