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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: arm · season · branch · ball · mark · lash · lie · coach

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. branch — a division
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. season — of the year
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. mark — a grade
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. lie — to recline
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. ball — a dance
  19. season — in sport
  20. mark — a trace
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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