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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: row · pass · ball · spring · kick · lash · temple · scale

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  9. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  10. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. pass — a permit
  3. spring — the season
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. row — a line
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. ball — a dance
  8. spring — a coil
  9. kick — in football
  10. kick — a thrill
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. scale — in music
  13. scale — size or range
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. spring — of water
  23. ball — a great time
  24. temple — side of the head

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