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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: pop · nail · lie · snap · net · lash · bark · bear

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. bear — the animal
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. bark — of a tree
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. pop — to visit
  9. pop — soda
  10. snap — to speak sharply
  11. net — after costs
  12. bark — to shout
  13. bear — the animal
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. lie — to recline
  16. snap — to click
  17. pop — music
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. net — for catching
  20. net — in sport
  21. bark — a dog's sound
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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