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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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. drill — the tool
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. drill — a practice
  5. ball — a dance
  6. ball — a great time
  7. fine — high quality
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. content — the amount
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. board — a committee
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. content — happy
  19. lie — to recline
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. board — to get on
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. fine — all right
  24. drill — army training

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