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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: board · mate · lash · pass · temple · fine · rush · foot

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. board — to get on
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. mate — to breed
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. foot — a measure
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. pass — a permit
  16. rush — hurry
  17. mate — a partner
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. board — a committee
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. mate — a friend
  24. fine — all right

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