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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: lash · object · pass · tube · bat · board · arm · mark

  1. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — for baseball
  2. board — a committee
  3. board — to get on
  4. object — a thing
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. object — an aim
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. tube — the underground
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. bat — in an idiom
  11. tube — a container
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. object — to protest
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. bat — the animal
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. pass — a permit
  22. mark — a grade
  23. mark — a trace
  24. arm — part of the body

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