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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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  21. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. bank — for money
  5. rock — a stone
  6. rush — hurry
  7. bank — of a river
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. mine — for digging
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. saw — the tool
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. bank — for money
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. march — the month
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. lie — to recline
  20. march — the month
  21. march — music
  22. rock — music
  23. saw — the tool
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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