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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 116 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
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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: suit · lash · ball · fine · ground · pitcher · season · lean

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. suit — to fit
  3. suit — in cards
  4. suit — clothes
  5. ground — the earth
  6. ground — crushed
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. lean — thin
  10. ball — a great time
  11. season — in sport
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. ball — a dance
  15. ground — a position
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. lean — to bend
  19. fine — high quality
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. fine — all right
  24. ball — a round shape

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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