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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: pop · lash · lean · ball · track · safe · arm · craft

  1. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. pop — to visit
  4. ball — a great time
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. lean — to bend
  7. track — a song
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. pop — soda
  14. track — to keep track
  15. pop — music
  16. lean — thin
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. track — a path
  21. craft — boats
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. ball — a dance
  24. craft — a handicraft

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