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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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Word bank
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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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. plane — a tool
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. season — of the year
  8. pass — a permit
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. season — in sport
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. bass — low music
  17. prune — to trim
  18. stand — to bear
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. bass — the fish
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. prune — to trim

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