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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: rash · can · sharp · lash · band · ground · fine · bear

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. bear — the animal
  3. band — a ring
  4. can — a tin
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. sharp — clever
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. band — a music group
  9. bear — the animal
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. band — a rubber band
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. ground — a position
  15. ground — the earth
  16. fine — all right
  17. can — to be able to
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. ground — crushed
  20. rash — a series
  21. fine — high quality
  22. can — a tin
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. rash — hasty

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