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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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  3. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  18. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. bark — to shout
  3. bark — a dog's sound
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. season — in sport
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. hand — help
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. pit — a hole
  12. rush — hurry
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. hand — in cards
  15. wake — a trail
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. bark — of a tree
  18. vault — in gymnastics
  19. season — of the year
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. vault — a safe
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. pit — in a race

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