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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: rash · lash · perch · cue · jam · trunk · charge · nail

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. charge — a price
  3. charge — electricity
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. perch — the fish
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. rash — a series
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. cue — for pool
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. rash — hasty
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. cue — a hint
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. cue — a signal
  23. charge — in control
  24. trunk — of a car

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