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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 116 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: key · lash · rush · nail · pass · straw · clip · lean

  1. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — a straw man
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. key — in music
  4. clip — for paper
  5. lean — to bend
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. straw — dry grass
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. lean — thin
  13. clip — to cut
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. clip — a video
  16. key — the most important part
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. rush — hurry
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. pass — a permit
  23. key — for a lock
  24. lash — an eyelash

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