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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 120 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 ________________ went through the wall.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. ball — a dance
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. last — final
  12. rock — music
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. ball — a great time
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. last — finally
  21. mine — for digging
  22. rock — a stone
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. last — to go on

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