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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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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 · bay · fine · present · jam · deal · firm · squash

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. firm — decided
  6. present — a gift
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. fine — high quality
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. fine — all right
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. squash — the sport
  17. present — there
  18. deal — to handle
  19. squash — to crush
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. firm — a company
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. present — the time now
  24. firm — steady

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