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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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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: row · jam · key · dip · rest · arm · net · kick

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  5. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  6. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. row — to paddle
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. kick — a thrill
  5. kick — with a leg
  6. kick — in football
  7. net — after costs
  8. key — for a lock
  9. net — in sport
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. rest — a break
  12. row — a line
  13. rest — what's left
  14. rest — what's left
  15. key — in music
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. key — the most important part
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. dip — to sink
  21. net — for catching
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. arm — part of the body

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