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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: lash · staff · temple · season · cue · saw · mark · mug

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. season — in sport
  3. cue — a hint
  4. mug — a face
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. staff — a stick
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. season — of the year
  12. mark — a trace
  13. staff — employees
  14. mug — a cup
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. cue — for pool
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. staff — employees
  20. saw — the tool
  21. mark — a grade
  22. cue — a signal
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. mug — to rob

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