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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 120 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: bank · cabinet · track · rash · lash · staff · pitcher · season

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. bank — of a river
  5. track — a path
  6. rash — a series
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. track — to keep track
  10. bank — for money
  11. staff — employees
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. season — in sport
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. staff — a stick
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. bank — for money
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. track — a song
  21. rash — hasty
  22. staff — employees
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. season — of the year

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