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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 120 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.

Words on the sheet
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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: lash · content · pitcher · racket · bowl · spell · deal · season

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. season — of the year
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. deal — to handle
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. content — happy
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. spell — letters
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. spell — magic
  19. content — the amount
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. spell — a short time
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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