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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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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 · board · saw · season · rest · stand · bass · rush

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. bass — the fish
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. saw — the tool
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. season — of the year
  8. saw — the tool
  9. bass — low music
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. season — in sport
  13. rest — what's left
  14. stand — to bear
  15. rush — hurry
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. rest — a break
  19. rest — what's left
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. board — to get on
  24. board — a committee

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