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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 120 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
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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: bay · lash · net · pop · drill · mate · sharp · lie

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. drill — army training
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. pop — soda
  6. mate — a partner
  7. pop — music
  8. net — for catching
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. sharp — clever
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. drill — the tool
  15. net — after costs
  16. drill — a practice
  17. net — in sport
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. lie — to recline
  20. mate — to breed
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. mate — a friend

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