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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: prune · lash · arm · perch · rest · key · stick · track

  1. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. key — in music
  4. rest — what's left
  5. prune — to trim
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. prune — to trim
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. track — a path
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. key — the most important part
  13. perch — the fish
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. rest — what's left
  16. track — a song
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. track — to keep track
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. key — for a lock
  24. rest — a break

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