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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
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: lash · board · season · rush · safe · bass · row · pitcher

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. board — to get on
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. row — to paddle
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. rush — hurry
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. row — a quarrel
  18. season — of the year
  19. board — a committee
  20. bass — the fish
  21. bass — low music
  22. row — a line
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. pitcher — a jug

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