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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.

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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: trunk · staff · face · arm · dip · hide · perch · temple

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. perch — the fish
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. face — to confront
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. staff — employees
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. staff — a stick
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. staff — employees
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. face — to point toward
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. face — part of the head
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. dip — to sink

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