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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.

Words on the sheet
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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 · firm · rule · rock · wave · arm · saw · rash

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. rash — a series
  3. rock — a stone
  4. rule — to rule out
  5. rock — music
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. rule — government
  8. firm — a company
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. firm — decided
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. rash — hasty
  16. saw — the tool
  17. firm — steady
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. rule — a law
  24. trunk — of a tree

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