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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. club — a group
  4. season — of the year
  5. cap — a lid
  6. bank — for money
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. charge — in control
  10. bank — of a river
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. charge — electricity
  14. charge — a price
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. club — for golf
  17. cap — of ice
  18. cap — a hat
  19. date — the fruit
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. club — for dancing
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. bank — for money

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