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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
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: season · mug · lash · suit · stick · lie · content · arm

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. mug — a face
  4. season — of the year
  5. suit — clothes
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. content — videos and posts
  8. suit — to fit
  9. content — happy
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. season — in sport
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. mug — a cup
  15. mug — to rob
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. content — the amount
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. suit — in cards
  23. lie — to recline
  24. arm — part of the body

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