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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 116 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
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: bark · bowl · lie · track · lash · rock · bear · rash

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. bark — to shout
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. rash — hasty
  7. lie — to recline
  8. track — a song
  9. bark — of a tree
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. track — a path
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. rock — a stone
  17. bark — a dog's sound
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. rash — a series
  21. bear — the animal
  22. rock — music
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. track — to keep track

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