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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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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: rock · dip · lash · rush · lie · fine · court · net

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. fine — all right
  5. net — for catching
  6. court — of law
  7. fine — high quality
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. dip — to sink
  10. net — after costs
  11. court — of a king
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. rock — music
  15. rush — hurry
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. lie — to recline
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. court — for sport
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. rock — a stone
  24. dip — a sauce

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