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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.

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: lash · mate · nail · plane · wake · rock · bear · lie

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. plane — a tool
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. mate — a partner
  5. rock — music
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. mate — to breed
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. wake — a trail
  16. mate — a friend
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. bear — the animal
  19. rock — a stone
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. bear — the animal

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