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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 120 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: hide · suit · tube · chip · mark · arm · key · calf

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. suit — clothes
  4. mark — a trace
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. key — for a lock
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. key — in music
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. tube — the underground
  14. tube — a container
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. suit — in cards
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. chip — for betting
  20. mark — a grade
  21. chip — to eat
  22. suit — to fit
  23. key — the most important part
  24. chip — in a computer

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