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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 116 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: rash · lash · wake · root · spell · kick · deal · fine

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. deal — to handle
  3. rash — a series
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. kick — with a leg
  7. wake — a trail
  8. root — the cause
  9. root — of a word
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. spell — magic
  13. rash — hasty
  14. root — of a plant
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. spell — letters
  17. fine — all right
  18. fine — high quality
  19. kick — in football
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. spell — a short time
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. kick — a thrill

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