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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.

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: rash · fan · row · leaves · fine · kick · arm · pitch

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. kick — with a leg
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. pitch — completely
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. rash — hasty
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. fine — high quality
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. kick — in football
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. rash — a series
  20. fine — all right
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. row — a line
  24. pitch — a sports field

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