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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: leaves · bear · arm · craft · bank · perch · bound · lash

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. bank — of a river
  3. bound — obliged
  4. bank — for money
  5. perch — the fish
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. bound — tied together
  8. bear — the animal
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. craft — a skill
  12. craft — boats
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. bound — certain
  19. bank — for money
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. bear — the animal

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