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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 120 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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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: arm · plane · stand · foot · lash · mate · lie · bulb

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. foot — a measure
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. lie — to recline
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. stand — to bear
  12. mate — a partner
  13. bulb — for light
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. mate — a friend
  17. plane — a tool
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. mate — to breed
  23. bulb — for light
  24. foot — the bottom

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