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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: arm · rash · current · suit · kick · lash · toast · leaves

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. kick — in football
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. kick — a thrill
  6. suit — to fit
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. suit — in cards
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. suit — clothes
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. rash — a series
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. current — electric
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. toast — bread
  19. kick — with a leg
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. current — of water
  22. rash — hasty
  23. current — happening now
  24. arm — part of the body

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