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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. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. rash — a series
  3. suit — clothes
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. face — to confront
  7. face — to point toward
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. rest — a break
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. face — part of the head
  12. suit — to fit
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. rest — what's left
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. suit — in cards
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. season — of the year
  20. rash — hasty
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. rest — what's left
  24. season — in sport

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