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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: bass · root · lash · arm · ball · mark · object · trunk

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. object — a thing
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. ball — a great time
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. root — of a word
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. mark — a grade
  13. bass — the fish
  14. mark — a trace
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. bass — low music
  17. root — the cause
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. ball — a dance
  20. object — an aim
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. object — to protest
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. root — of a plant

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