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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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. There's no middle ________________.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  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 — a whip stroke
  2. rush — hurry
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. roll — a cake
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. board — to get on
  7. ground — a position
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. ground — the earth
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. roll — a list
  17. board — a committee
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. ground — crushed
  23. bowl — a dish
  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