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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: tube · arm · key · rash · leaves · plane · ball · foot

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. key — in music
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. rash — a series
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. rash — hasty
  8. key — the most important part
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. ball — a great time
  12. tube — a container
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. key — for a lock
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. plane — a tool
  17. ball — a dance
  18. tube — the underground
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. foot — a measure
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. foot — 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