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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. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  11. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. staff — employees
  10. chest — of your body
  11. chest — of your body
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. rash — hasty
  15. net — in sport
  16. rash — a series
  17. chest — a box
  18. staff — a stick
  19. pass — a permit
  20. stand — to bear
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. net — for catching
  24. staff — employees

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