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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.

Make a worksheet

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: lash · coach · temple · lie · bat · pass · bass · fine

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  3. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. bat — for baseball
  3. bat — in an idiom
  4. pass — a permit
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. bass — the fish
  8. fine — high quality
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. bass — low music
  19. lie — to recline
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. fine — all right
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. bat — the animal
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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