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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: ground · bay · nail · cabinet · arm · lash · fine · saw

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. saw — the tool
  5. ground — the earth
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. fine — high quality
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. ground — crushed
  12. saw — the tool
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. ground — a position
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. fine — all right
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. arm — a part of something

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