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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: lie · mate · leaves · chair · rock · last · lash · squash

  1. False peace will not ________________.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. last — to go on
  2. lie — to recline
  3. chair — to sit on
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. mate — to breed
  10. squash — to crush
  11. mate — a partner
  12. squash — the sport
  13. rock — music
  14. last — final
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. last — finally
  20. rock — a stone
  21. chair — a professorship
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. mate — a friend
  24. chair — a leader

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