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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
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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: rash · mug · lash · fine · wave · stock · hide · leaves

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. rash — hasty
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. mug — to rob
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. mug — a face
  12. stock — shares
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. rash — a series
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. mug — a cup
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. fine — high quality
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. stock — goods
  23. fine — all right
  24. fine — a penalty

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