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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. bound — certain
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. bound — obliged
  12. lie — to recline
  13. board — to get on
  14. bound — tied together
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. sharp — clever
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. board — a committee
  24. hide — animal skin

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