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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: tube · fine · spell · nail · ball · present · lash · rest

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. tube — the underground
  6. tube — a container
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. present — the time now
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. rest — a break
  12. spell — a short time
  13. fine — all right
  14. ball — a great time
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. fine — high quality
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. present — there
  19. rest — what's left
  20. ball — a dance
  21. present — a gift
  22. spell — letters
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. rest — what's left

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