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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 · pit · lash · fine · branch · wax · spring · rock

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. fine — all right
  4. spring — the season
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. fine — high quality
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. pit — in a race
  11. spring — of water
  12. spring — a coil
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. branch — a division
  15. rock — a stone
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. pit — a hole
  18. rock — music
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. wax — to grow
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. arm — part of the body

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