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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 ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  24. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. board — a committee
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. foot — a measure
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. track — to keep track
  12. wind — moving air
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. track — a path
  18. board — to get on
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. track — a song
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. date — the fruit
  23. wind — moving air
  24. wind — to turn a key

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