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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. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. When are we going to ________________?
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. press — to push
  9. lie — to recline
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. key — in music
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. land — a country
  14. land — ground
  15. press — a publisher
  16. key — the most important part
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. pitch — completely
  21. key — for a lock
  22. press — newspapers
  23. land — to come down
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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