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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 120 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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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: wave · can · lash · kid · pitcher · face · safe · chest

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  8. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. face — to point toward
  3. can — a tin
  4. can — a tin
  5. kid — child
  6. face — part of the head
  7. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  8. chest — of your body
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. chest — a box
  15. face — to confront
  16. chest — of your body
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. can — to be able to
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. kid — to tease
  24. wave — with your hand

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