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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: safe · arm · mine · stand · board · lash · staff · hand

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. board — a committee
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. mine — for digging
  10. staff — a stick
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. stand — to bear
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. board — to get on
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. hand — in cards
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. hand — help
  24. staff — employees

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