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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. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. can — to be able to
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. rash — a series
  8. season — of the year
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. net — in sport
  11. fine — all right
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. net — after costs
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. net — for catching
  16. lie — to recline
  17. can — a tin
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. season — in sport
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. can — a tin
  22. fine — high quality
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. snap — to click

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