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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: safe · mug · shower · lie · fan · wound · bowl · lash

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. This looks like a gunshot ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. mug — to rob
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. shower — rain
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. shower — to wash
  12. wound — an injury
  13. mug — a face
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. shower — a meteor shower
  16. mug — a cup
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. lie — to recline
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. wound — an injury

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