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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.

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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: season · leaves · key · lash · spring · staff · ruler · snap

  1. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. The flowers bloom in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. staff — employees
  4. staff — employees
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. spring — of water
  8. key — the most important part
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. key — in music
  16. snap — to click
  17. staff — a stick
  18. season — of the year
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. key — for a lock
  21. season — in sport
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. spring — the season

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