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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: lash · drill · board · jam · season · lean · cabinet · lie

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. We had a fire ________________ at school today.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. lean — to bend
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. board — a committee
  7. drill — the tool
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. lean — thin
  10. lie — to recline
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. drill — army training
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. board — to get on
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. season — in sport
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. season — of the year
  24. drill — a practice

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