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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: season · prune · arm · pass · stand · lash · roll · pitch

  1. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. roll — a cake
  5. prune — to trim
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. roll — a list
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. pitch — completely
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. prune — to trim
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. season — of the year
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. stand — to bear
  23. pass — a permit
  24. season — in sport

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