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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.

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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: root · firm · cabinet · kick · lash · trunk · arm · mark

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. kick — with a leg
  5. root — of a word
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. mark — a trace
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. root — of a plant
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. root — the cause
  15. firm — a company
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. kick — a thrill
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. firm — decided
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. mark — a grade
  23. kick — in football
  24. firm — steady

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