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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
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: arm · lash · prune · bowl · bulb · leaves · pass · cabinet

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. bulb — for light
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. prune — to trim
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. pass — a permit
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. prune — to trim
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. bulb — for light
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. arm — a part of something

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