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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.

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: season · land · bowl · key · nail · rule · lash · lie

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  3. When are we going to ________________?
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  15. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  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. key — in music
  2. rule — government
  3. land — to come down
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. season — in sport
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. key — for a lock
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. land — a country
  13. key — the most important part
  14. rule — to rule out
  15. rule — a law
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. land — ground
  18. lie — to recline
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. season — of the year
  23. nail — on a finger
  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