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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: can · leaves · lash · season · bound · rest · ball · file

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. rest — what's left
  6. can — a tin
  7. rest — a break
  8. file — a document
  9. ball — a great time
  10. bound — tied together
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. file — a tool
  13. file — a line of people
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. can — to be able to
  16. season — in sport
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. season — of the year
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. can — a tin
  22. bound — certain
  23. ball — a dance
  24. bound — obliged

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