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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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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 · season · safe · pit · bear · board · squash · club

  1. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  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. pit — a fruit stone
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. season — in sport
  4. board — to get on
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. squash — to crush
  8. bear — the animal
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. club — for dancing
  11. board — a committee
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. bear — the animal
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. club — for golf
  16. pit — in a race
  17. club — a group
  18. squash — the sport
  19. season — of the year
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. pit — a hole
  23. bear — to put up with
  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