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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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. season — in sport
  3. file — a document
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. rush — hurry
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. file — a tool
  9. rash — hasty
  10. rash — a series
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. board — a committee
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. file — a line of people
  16. board — to get on
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. season — of the year
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. toast — bread
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. pass — a permit

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