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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. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. pass — a permit
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. saw — the tool
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. saw — the tool
  15. deal — to handle
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. staff — a stick
  18. season — of the year
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. staff — employees
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. staff — employees
  23. season — in sport
  24. safe — out of danger

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