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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. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. staff — employees
  4. pass — a permit
  5. fall — the season
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. lie — to recline
  9. fall — to drop
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. staff — a stick
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. fall — to drop
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. rush — hurry
  21. staff — employees
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. pass — to spend time

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