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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: dip · arm · lash · coach · bowl · charge · pitch · suit

  1. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. suit — clothes
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. charge — electricity
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. charge — in control
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. dip — to sink
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. charge — a price
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. suit — in cards
  23. suit — to fit
  24. pitch — completely

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