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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: scale · racket · lie · lash · deal · net · bulb · squash

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. scale — in music
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. squash — to crush
  6. bulb — for light
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. scale — size or range
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. deal — to handle
  11. squash — the sport
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. bulb — for light
  16. lie — to recline
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. net — for catching
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. net — after costs
  21. net — in sport
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. lash — an eyelash

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