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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. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  10. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. ball — a great time
  3. ball — a dance
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. plane — a tool
  6. key — the most important part
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. wind — moving air
  10. wind — moving air
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. wind — to turn a key
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. key — in music
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. key — for a lock
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. lean — thin
  23. lean — to bend
  24. foot — a measure

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