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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: rush · safe · mark · file · spell · spring · lash · board

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. file — a document
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. board — to get on
  5. spring — the season
  6. spell — letters
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. spell — magic
  9. spring — a coil
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. rush — hurry
  12. mark — a trace
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. board — a committee
  15. spring — of water
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. mark — a grade
  20. spell — a short time
  21. file — a line of people
  22. file — a tool
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. lash — to lash out

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