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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.

Make a worksheet

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: leaves · arm · rush · season · ruler · deal · lash · charge

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. charge — in control
  5. charge — a price
  6. rush — hurry
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. charge — electricity
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. season — of the year
  21. deal — to handle
  22. season — in sport
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. leaves — lets stay

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