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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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. rock — music
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. field — farmland
  6. suit — in cards
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. rash — hasty
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. rush — hurry
  12. field — a subject
  13. suit — clothes
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. suit — to fit
  20. rash — a series
  21. rock — a stone
  22. field — for sport
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. lash — to lash out

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