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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: lean · pass · scale · rush · arm · cue · temple · game

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. rush — hurry
  4. scale — size or range
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. pass — a permit
  12. scale — in music
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. cue — a signal
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. cue — for pool
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. lean — to bend
  19. cue — a hint
  20. lean — thin
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. game — wild animals
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. game — a match

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