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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: pass · lash · race · hand · ruler · net · fine · bowl

  1. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. race — the arms race
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. hand — help
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. net — in sport
  13. hand — in cards
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. race — a contest
  16. net — for catching
  17. net — after costs
  18. fine — high quality
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. pass — a permit
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. fine — all right
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. race — humankind

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