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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: stem · season · lash · dip · rest · hide · arm · hand

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  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. dip — to dunk
  2. rest — a break
  3. rest — what's left
  4. hand — help
  5. rest — what's left
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. season — of the year
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. season — in sport
  17. hand — in cards
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. stem — to come from
  20. dip — to sink
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. arm — a part of something
  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