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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.

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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: cell · bay · mouse · plane · arm · ball · fall · nail

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  8. He was locked up in a ________________.
  9. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. ball — a dance
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. cell — in biology
  8. cell — in a prison
  9. fall — to drop
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. fall — to drop
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. plane — a tool
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. fall — the season
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. ball — a great time
  24. cell — a phone

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