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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.

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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 · board · saw · pass · snap · deal · perch · rash

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. pass — a permit
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. rash — hasty
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. deal — to handle
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. saw — the tool
  15. board — to get on
  16. perch — the fish
  17. board — a committee
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. snap — to click
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. rash — a series

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