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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.

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: lash · dip · wave · arm · staff · bore · row · can

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. dip — to sink
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. can — a tin
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. row — a line
  13. staff — employees
  14. staff — a stick
  15. can — a tin
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. can — to be able to
  18. bore — to drill
  19. row — to paddle
  20. staff — employees
  21. bore — to tire
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. lash — to lash out

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