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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
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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: craft · lie · season · wound · mug · spell · lash · sharp

  1. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. spell — magic
  3. lie — to recline
  4. mug — to rob
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. sharp — clever
  7. season — of the year
  8. mug — a cup
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. wound — an injury
  11. spell — letters
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. spell — a short time
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. mug — a face
  17. craft — boats
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. season — in sport
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. wound — an injury
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. craft — a skill

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