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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 120 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: arm · rest · race · prune · safe · lash · saw · lie

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. A ________________ is just a dried plum.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. race — humankind
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. race — a contest
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. prune — to trim
  9. saw — the tool
  10. rest — what's left
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. saw — the tool
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. prune — to trim
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. rest — what's left
  18. rest — a break
  19. race — the arms race
  20. lie — to recline
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. prune — the fruit

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