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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. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. There's no middle ________________.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  14. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. fall — the season
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. key — for a lock
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. ground — a position
  8. season — of the year
  9. key — in music
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. fall — to drop
  14. fall — to drop
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. row — a line
  17. ground — the earth
  18. bass — low music
  19. ground — crushed
  20. season — in sport
  21. bass — the fish
  22. key — the most important part
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. hide — animal skin

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