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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: rush · suit · fan · key · face · arm · court · mouse

  1. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The ball is in your ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. court — of law
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. face — to confront
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. suit — in cards
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. suit — to fit
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. suit — clothes
  11. key — in music
  12. court — for sport
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. key — for a lock
  16. face — to point toward
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. rush — hurry
  21. court — of a king
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. face — part of the head
  24. key — the most important part

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