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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.

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: racket · cue · rash · pop · lash · plane · season · leaves

  1. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. plane — a tool
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. rash — a series
  7. pop — to visit
  8. cue — for pool
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. season — of the year
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. pop — soda
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. cue — a signal
  17. season — in sport
  18. pop — music
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. cue — a hint
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. leaves — of a tree

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