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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 120 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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. False peace will not ________________.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. craft — boats
  4. net — for catching
  5. last — to go on
  6. firm — a company
  7. firm — decided
  8. last — final
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. firm — steady
  13. craft — a skill
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. net — after costs
  16. scale — size or range
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. scale — in music
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. net — in sport
  22. last — finally
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. craft — a handicraft

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