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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: cabinet · kid · rash · safe · bore · wake · mate · lash

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. rash — a series
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. mate — a friend
  6. kid — to tease
  7. mate — a partner
  8. kid — child
  9. mate — to breed
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. wake — a trail
  13. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. rash — hasty
  16. bore — to tire
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. bore — to drill
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. safe — out of danger

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