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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
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: club · foot · season · fine · swing · lash · stick · fan

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. David sat on the ________________.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  17. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. club — for dancing
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. season — in sport
  11. swing — to play on
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. swing — music
  17. club — a group
  18. foot — a measure
  19. swing — in golf
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. season — of the year
  22. club — for golf
  23. fine — all right
  24. fine — high quality

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