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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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: pass · track · lash · lie · ball · board

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. ball — a great time
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. pass — a permit
  8. board — a committee
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. track — a path
  12. board — to get on
  13. track — a song
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. track — to keep track
  16. lie — to recline
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. lie — an untruth

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