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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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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 · fine · prune · rock · rush · arm · mate · spell

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. rock — music
  7. spell — letters
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. fine — high quality
  10. prune — to trim
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. spell — a short time
  14. mate — a friend
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. prune — to trim
  17. mate — to breed
  18. rock — a stone
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. rush — hurry
  22. spell — magic
  23. mate — a partner
  24. rush — a thrill

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