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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. key — for a lock
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. season — of the year
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. net — for catching
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. key — in music
  12. lean — thin
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. net — after costs
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. net — in sport
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. key — the most important part
  22. lean — to bend
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. hide — to keep secret

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