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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. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  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. ball — a great time
  2. firm — steady
  3. fall — to drop
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. charge — a price
  9. firm — a company
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. fall — to drop
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. season — in sport
  14. board — to get on
  15. fall — the season
  16. board — a committee
  17. charge — electricity
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. firm — decided
  20. season — of the year
  21. ball — a dance
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. charge — in control
  24. lash — to lash out

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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