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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: rash · cell · mug · perch · lash · safe · bank · bass

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. He was locked up in a ________________.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. perch — the fish
  7. bass — low music
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. rash — hasty
  10. cell — in biology
  11. mug — a face
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. bank — of a river
  14. cell — a phone
  15. bank — for money
  16. mug — to rob
  17. cell — in a prison
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. bass — the fish
  21. mug — a cup
  22. bank — for money
  23. rash — a series
  24. safe — a strongbox

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