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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.

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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: stick · lash · nail · season · squash · deal · lean · suit

  1. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. season — in sport
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. suit — in cards
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. suit — clothes
  11. deal — to handle
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. lean — to bend
  16. suit — to fit
  17. squash — the sport
  18. squash — to crush
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. lean — thin
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. season — of the year

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