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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: track · leaves · rock · press · chest · lash · suit · fine

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. suit — clothes
  3. press — newspapers
  4. chest — of your body
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. track — to keep track
  7. rock — a stone
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. fine — all right
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. press — a publisher
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. chest — of your body
  16. fine — high quality
  17. suit — to fit
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. press — to push
  20. track — a path
  21. chest — a box
  22. rock — music
  23. track — a song
  24. suit — in cards

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