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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.

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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: rash · deal · suit · club · foot · lash · wind · present

  1. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  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. wind — moving air
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. wind — moving air
  5. present — the time now
  6. club — for dancing
  7. suit — clothes
  8. wind — to turn a key
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. suit — to fit
  14. deal — to handle
  15. club — for golf
  16. rash — hasty
  17. present — a gift
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. rash — a series
  20. club — a group
  21. present — there
  22. suit — in cards
  23. foot — a measure
  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