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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: file · arm · land · toast · lean · firm · trunk · suit

  1. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. file — a document
  3. toast — bread
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. firm — decided
  6. suit — to fit
  7. suit — clothes
  8. file — a line of people
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. land — to come down
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. lean — to bend
  14. lean — thin
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. land — a country
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. file — a tool
  19. land — ground
  20. suit — in cards
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. firm — steady
  23. firm — a company
  24. arm — part of the body

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