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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
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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: lash · rest · season · safe · spring · ruler · pitcher · arm

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. spring — a coil
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. season — of the year
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. rest — a break
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. spring — of water
  17. spring — the season
  18. rest — what's left
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. season — in sport
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. rest — what's left

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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