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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 120 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: shower · lie · wave · lash · spring · ruler · can · fine

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. shower — rain
  3. spring — a coil
  4. shower — to wash
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. fine — all right
  9. spring — of water
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. can — a tin
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. can — to be able to
  15. can — a tin
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. lie — to recline
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. spring — the season
  20. shower — a meteor shower
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. fine — high quality
  24. lash — to lash out

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