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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 120 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 captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. rash — a series
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. stock — shares
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. hand — in cards
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. stock — goods
  9. hand — help
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. ball — a dance
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. board — a committee
  17. rash — hasty
  18. ball — a great time
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. foot — a measure

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