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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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. suit — clothes
  3. saw — the tool
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. saw — the tool
  12. suit — in cards
  13. stock — shares
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. scale — in music
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. pass — a permit
  19. suit — to fit
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. scale — size or range
  23. stock — goods
  24. pass — to spend time

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