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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: rock · bat · safe · nail · ground · pop · board · lash

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  15. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. bat — for baseball
  4. board — to get on
  5. ground — crushed
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. rock — a stone
  12. rock — music
  13. pop — to visit
  14. bat — the animal
  15. ground — the earth
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. board — a committee
  19. bat — in an idiom
  20. ground — a position
  21. pop — soda
  22. pop — music
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. safe — out of danger

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