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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.

Make a worksheet

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: suit · ball · file · lash · lie · plane · perch · mark

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. lie — to recline
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. file — a line of people
  6. ball — a great time
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. file — a tool
  9. ball — a dance
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. mark — a grade
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. suit — to fit
  17. mark — a trace
  18. file — a document
  19. plane — a tool
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. suit — in cards
  24. perch — the fish

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