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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.

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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. suit — in cards
  3. march — the month
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. suit — to fit
  8. spell — a short time
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. march — the month
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. spell — magic
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. spell — letters
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. march — music
  19. suit — clothes
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. deal — to handle
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. lash — to lash out

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