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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.

Make a worksheet

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: mouse · safe · pass · game · lash · wound · rash · mine

  1. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  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. wound — an injury
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. game — wild animals
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. wound — an injury
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. rash — hasty
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. mine — for digging
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. rash — a series
  20. pass — a permit
  21. game — a match
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. mouse — the animal
  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