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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.

Make a worksheet

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 · safe · press · hide · date · craft · object · rush

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. press — to push
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. date — the fruit
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. press — newspapers
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. object — an aim
  11. object — to protest
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. press — a publisher
  15. rush — hurry
  16. craft — a skill
  17. object — a thing
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. craft — boats
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. date — on the calendar

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