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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: bowl · roll · stem · can · arm · net · degree · key

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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 — on a roll
  3. can — a tin
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. key — in music
  6. degree — temperature
  7. net — for catching
  8. degree — an amount
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. degree — from a university
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. roll — a cake
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. net — in sport
  17. key — the most important part
  18. net — after costs
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. roll — a list
  21. key — for a lock
  22. can — a tin
  23. stem — to come from
  24. can — to be able to

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