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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: lash · stick · season · saw · cabinet · perch · nail · fine

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. perch — the fish
  4. saw — the tool
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. season — in sport
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. season — of the year
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. saw — the tool
  17. fine — all right
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. fine — high quality
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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