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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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. pass — a permit
  4. rash — hasty
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. game — wild animals
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. rash — a series
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. game — a match
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. leaves — lets stay

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