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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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. rush — hurry
  9. key — in music
  10. bass — low music
  11. key — the most important part
  12. pass — a permit
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. date — the fruit
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. bass — the fish
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. key — for a lock
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. temple — a place of worship

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