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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. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. face — part of the head
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. face — to confront
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. lie — to recline
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. stick — to attach or keep to
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. face — to point toward
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. fan — to cool the air

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