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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: fork · jam · bat · lash · racket · spell · safe · rash

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  20. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. bat — in an idiom
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. spell — magic
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. rash — a series
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. rash — hasty
  15. bat — for baseball
  16. spell — a short time
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. fork — in a road
  20. bat — the animal
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. spell — letters
  24. racket — for tennis

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