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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: roll · ruler · present · mouse · jam · suit · arm · track

  1. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. roll — a cake
  3. track — a path
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. roll — a list
  7. track — a song
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. present — the time now
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. present — there
  15. suit — to fit
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. track — to keep track
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. suit — clothes
  20. suit — in cards
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. present — a gift
  24. jam — a tight spot

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