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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: lean · nail · mouse · land · lash · bark · safe · rest

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. When are we going to ________________?
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. bark — a dog's sound
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. rest — what's left
  6. land — to come down
  7. rest — a break
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. lean — to bend
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. land — ground
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. land — a country
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. rest — what's left
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. lean — thin
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. bark — to shout
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. lean — to rest against

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