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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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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 · foot · last · net · roll · pass · racket · rest

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. roll — a cake
  8. rest — what's left
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. last — to go on
  11. foot — a measure
  12. last — finally
  13. pass — a permit
  14. net — after costs
  15. last — final
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. net — for catching
  18. net — in sport
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. rest — a break
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. rest — what's left
  24. roll — a list

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