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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: scale · lash · squash · land · bound · season · pass · can

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. When are we going to ________________?
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. land — a country
  4. scale — size or range
  5. land — ground
  6. bound — certain
  7. squash — to crush
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. can — a tin
  10. season — in sport
  11. bound — obliged
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. can — a tin
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. scale — in music
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. pass — a permit
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. season — of the year
  22. bound — tied together
  23. land — to come down
  24. squash — the sport

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