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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  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. season — in sport
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. mark — a trace
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. lie — to recline
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. rush — hurry
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. vault — a safe
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. mark — a grade
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. season — of the year
  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