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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: ruler · wound · date · nail · craft · ball · lash · ground

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. ball — a dance
  3. ground — crushed
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. ball — a great time
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. wound — an injury
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. wound — an injury
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. ground — a position
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. craft — a skill
  20. craft — boats
  21. ground — the earth
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. date — the fruit
  24. ruler — for measuring

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