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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: tube · can · scale · arm · trunk · board · lash · pitcher

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. board — to get on
  4. tube — a container
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. can — a tin
  7. board — a committee
  8. scale — in music
  9. scale — size or range
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. can — to be able to
  16. tube — the underground
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. can — a tin
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. trunk — of a tree

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