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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.

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: lie · branch · foot · spring · arm · craft · can · lash

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. The flowers bloom in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. can — to be able to
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. lie — to recline
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. spring — a coil
  8. spring — of water
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. can — a tin
  13. can — a tin
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. branch — a division
  17. craft — boats
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. craft — a skill
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. spring — the season

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