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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 belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. cap — a hat
  3. cap — a lid
  4. club — for dancing
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. rest — what's left
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. club — for golf
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. lie — to recline
  14. firm — decided
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. firm — a company
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. firm — steady
  20. rest — a break
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. rest — what's left
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. cap — of ice

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