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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. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. He was locked up in a ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. cell — in a prison
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. bear — the animal
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. ground — the earth
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. bear — the animal
  12. cell — in biology
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. cell — a phone
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. ground — crushed
  21. plane — a tool
  22. ground — a position
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. bear — to put up with

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