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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.

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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: date · can · lash · drill · stem · squash · suit · board

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. We had a fire ________________ at school today.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. suit — clothes
  7. can — a tin
  8. squash — to crush
  9. can — to be able to
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. board — to get on
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. drill — the tool
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. squash — the sport
  17. can — a tin
  18. board — a committee
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. date — the fruit
  21. drill — army training
  22. stem — to come from
  23. suit — to fit
  24. drill — a practice

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