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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: clip · can · coach · temple · arm · fall · board · leaves

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  14. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. can — to be able to
  4. fall — to drop
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. clip — a video
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. clip — for paper
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. fall — the season
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. clip — to cut
  14. fall — to drop
  15. board — to get on
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. board — a committee
  19. can — a tin
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. can — a tin
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. arm — a part of something

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