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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
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: trunk · temple · saw · stand · bass · kid · sharp · arm

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. kid — child
  5. saw — the tool
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. bass — the fish
  9. kid — to tease
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. stand — to bear
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. sharp — clever
  19. bass — low music
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. saw — the tool
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  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