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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. rash — a series
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. ball — a great time
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. drill — a practice
  8. dip — to sink
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. rash — hasty
  11. drill — army training
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. fine — high quality
  15. ball — a dance
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. fine — all right
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. drill — the tool
  24. trunk — of a tree

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