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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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. bound — certain
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. bound — tied together
  11. key — in music
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. rash — a series
  14. pitch — completely
  15. key — for a lock
  16. key — the most important part
  17. rash — hasty
  18. sharp — clever
  19. fine — high quality
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. bound — obliged
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. fine — all right

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