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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: fan · wave · saw · fine · lash · nail · kick · root

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. root — the cause
  4. kick — with a leg
  5. root — of a word
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. saw — the tool
  8. kick — a thrill
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. root — of a plant
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. kick — in football
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. saw — the tool
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. fine — high quality
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. fine — all right

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