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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 120 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: bowl · lash · cue · face · hand · sharp · foot · prune

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. hand — in cards
  4. cue — a hint
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. face — to point toward
  7. cue — a signal
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. sharp — clever
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. hand — help
  17. face — part of the head
  18. prune — to trim
  19. face — to confront
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. prune — to trim
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. cue — for pool
  24. foot — a measure

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