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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: fan · track · leaves · deal · mug · coach · lie · lash

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. track — to keep track
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. lie — to recline
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. mug — a face
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. track — a song
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. mug — to rob
  18. mug — a cup
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. deal — to handle
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. leaves — lets stay

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