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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: plane · temple · pit · stem · roll · arm · squash · rush

  1. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. rush — hurry
  9. roll — a cake
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. plane — a tool
  12. squash — the sport
  13. pit — in a race
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. squash — to crush
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. stem — to come from
  23. roll — a list
  24. pit — a hole

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