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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: pitch · lash · wax · lean · can · object · dip · arm

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  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. arm — part of the body
  2. object — to protest
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. object — a thing
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. pitch — completely
  11. wax — to grow
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. lean — to bend
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. can — a tin
  16. object — an aim
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. can — to be able to
  19. can — a tin
  20. lean — thin
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. dip — to sink
  23. wax — in the ear
  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