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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.

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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: mug · sharp · lash · chest · season · lie · mouse · saw

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. chest — a box
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. mug — a cup
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. saw — the tool
  8. sharp — clever
  9. season — in sport
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. chest — of your body
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. mug — a face
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. season — of the year
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. saw — the tool
  20. mug — to rob
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. chest — of your body
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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