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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: lash · safe · fork · lie · racket · object · arm · tube

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. tube — the underground
  4. object — an aim
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. object — to protest
  11. fork — to eat with
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. tube — a container
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. lie — to recline
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. fork — in a road
  24. lash — to lash out

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