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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: pitcher · season · deal · stick · rash · pass · squash · lie

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. rash — a series
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. squash — to crush
  9. squash — the sport
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. deal — to handle
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. season — of the year
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. pass — a permit
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. season — in sport
  22. lie — to recline
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. rash — hasty

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