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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: deal · lash · mug · lie · stock · squash · staff · stand

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. mug — to rob
  3. squash — to crush
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. deal — to handle
  6. mug — a cup
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. lie — to recline
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. staff — employees
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. stand — to bear
  14. staff — a stick
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. stock — goods
  17. squash — the sport
  18. stock — shares
  19. mug — a face
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. staff — employees
  24. stock — a soup base

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