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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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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: safe · perch · dip · lash · pitcher · rest · hide · arm

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. rest — what's left
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. rest — a break
  12. rest — what's left
  13. dip — to sink
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. perch — the fish
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. hide — to keep secret

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