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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: season · wave · chest · jam · lash · key · file · hide

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. chest — a box
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. file — a tool
  5. season — of the year
  6. file — a line of people
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. file — a document
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. key — in music
  13. chest — of your body
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. season — in sport
  17. key — the most important part
  18. chest — of your body
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. key — for a lock
  24. lash — to lash out

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