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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.

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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: swing · lash · pass · saw · row · scale · fine · season

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. David sat on the ________________.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. row — to paddle
  3. season — of the year
  4. season — in sport
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. saw — the tool
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. swing — to play on
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. saw — the tool
  13. swing — in golf
  14. scale — size or range
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. pass — a permit
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. scale — in music
  21. row — a line
  22. swing — music
  23. fine — all right
  24. fine — high quality

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