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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: lash · lie · net · rash · nail · deal · swing · leaves

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. David sat on the ________________.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. swing — music
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. lie — to recline
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. rash — a series
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. net — after costs
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. deal — to handle
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. net — in sport
  18. swing — to play on
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. rash — hasty
  22. swing — in golf
  23. net — for catching
  24. lie — an untruth

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