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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 116 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 wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  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. pass — to spend time
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. bark — to shout
  4. season — of the year
  5. season — in sport
  6. bark — a dog's sound
  7. net — for catching
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. net — after costs
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. suit — clothes
  16. suit — in cards
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. sharp — clever
  19. net — in sport
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. pass — a permit
  22. suit — to fit
  23. hide — to keep secret
  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