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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 116 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.

Make a worksheet

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: stick · net · rash · perch · rush · lash · land · craft

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. When are we going to ________________?
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. perch — the fish
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. land — a country
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. rash — hasty
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. net — after costs
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. land — ground
  17. craft — a skill
  18. net — in sport
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. net — for catching
  21. craft — boats
  22. land — to come down
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. rush — hurry

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