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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. deal — to handle
  3. track — a song
  4. club — a group
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. bound — obliged
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. net — in sport
  10. season — of the year
  11. track — a path
  12. club — for golf
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. bound — tied together
  15. bound — certain
  16. net — for catching
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. club — for dancing
  19. track — to keep track
  20. season — in sport
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. net — after costs
  23. toast — bread
  24. deal — a big deal

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