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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: game · saw · season · board · lash · vault · ruler · safe

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. board — a committee
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. season — of the year
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. board — to get on
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. vault — a safe
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. saw — the tool
  14. vault — an arched ceiling
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. saw — the tool
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. game — a match
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. game — wild animals
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. season — in sport

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