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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. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. key — for a lock
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. key — the most important part
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. pass — a permit
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. key — in music
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. roll — a cake
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. plane — a tool
  23. roll — a list
  24. pass — to spend time

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