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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. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. bore — to tire
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. bass — low music
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. bass — the fish
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. wake — a trail
  13. rush — hurry
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. pass — a permit
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. lean — to bend
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. bore — to drill
  23. lean — thin
  24. lash — to lash out

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