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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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Word bank
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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. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. bound — certain
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. can — a tin
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. staff — employees
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. bound — tied together
  15. can — to be able to
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. staff — employees
  19. can — a tin
  20. staff — a stick
  21. bound — obliged
  22. date — the fruit
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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