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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: lash · chip · season · last · bank · saw · tube · ruler

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. bank — of a river
  3. season — in sport
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. saw — the tool
  7. last — final
  8. tube — the underground
  9. chip — to eat
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. last — finally
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. bank — for money
  16. bank — for money
  17. last — to go on
  18. tube — a container
  19. saw — the tool
  20. season — of the year
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. chip — for betting

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