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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.

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: saw · lash · drill · bowl · deal · swing · mug · coach

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. David sat on the ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  21. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. drill — a practice
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. mug — a cup
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. mug — a face
  8. saw — the tool
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. mug — to rob
  11. drill — the tool
  12. swing — to play on
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. saw — the tool
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. drill — army training
  19. deal — to handle
  20. swing — music
  21. swing — in golf
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. coach — a trainer

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