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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: foot · arm · staff · pop · cabinet · lash · perch · pass

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. pop — soda
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. staff — employees
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. pop — to visit
  10. pop — music
  11. foot — a measure
  12. perch — the fish
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. pass — a permit
  16. staff — employees
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. staff — a stick
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. foot — 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