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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.

Make a worksheet

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: track · sharp · bowl · arm · saw · fork · lash · rash

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. track — a path
  3. fork — in a road
  4. sharp — clever
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. track — to keep track
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. fork — to eat with
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. track — a song
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. saw — the tool
  17. saw — the tool
  18. rash — a series
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. rash — hasty
  24. sharp — exactly

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