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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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. fall — to drop
  5. pit — in a race
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. board — a committee
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. fall — to drop
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. stem — to come from
  19. board — to get on
  20. fall — the season
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. pit — a hole

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