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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.

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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: squash · fine · jam · fan · lash · hide · pop · net

  1. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. pop — music
  5. fine — high quality
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. net — after costs
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. pop — to visit
  10. squash — the sport
  11. pop — soda
  12. net — in sport
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. squash — to crush
  16. fine — all right
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. net — for catching

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