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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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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. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. race — the arms race
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. race — a contest
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. mark — a grade
  8. bound — obliged
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. bound — tied together
  12. row — a line
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. mark — a trace
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. season — in sport
  18. branch — a division
  19. race — humankind
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. bound — certain
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. row — to paddle
  24. season — of the year

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