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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. fall — to drop
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. prune — to trim
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. spring — of water
  9. chip — for betting
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. chip — to eat
  13. spring — the season
  14. prune — to trim
  15. foot — a measure
  16. fall — to drop
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. fall — the season
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. spring — a coil
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. safe — out of danger

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