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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: can · date · stand · hide · lash · dip · arm · mark

  1. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. stand — to bear
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. can — to be able to
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. mark — a grade
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. dip — to sink
  15. date — the fruit
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. mark — a trace
  19. can — a tin
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. can — a tin
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. dip — to dunk

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