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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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  17. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. club — a group
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. land — a country
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. land — to come down
  13. land — ground
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. club — for dancing
  17. club — for golf
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. date — the fruit
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. sharp — clever

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