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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.

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: arm · can · lash · leaves · jam · ground · bowl · bore

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. bore — to drill
  3. ground — a position
  4. ground — crushed
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. can — a tin
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. bore — to tire
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. ground — the earth
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. can — a tin
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. can — to be able to
  24. lash — an eyelash

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