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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: suit · lash · lean · file · press · lie · arm · bulb

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. suit — clothes
  9. bulb — for light
  10. lie — to recline
  11. file — a document
  12. suit — to fit
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. suit — in cards
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. press — a publisher
  18. file — a tool
  19. press — to push
  20. lean — to bend
  21. lean — thin
  22. bulb — for light
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. press — newspapers

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