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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.

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: object · rush · lash · cabinet · racket · face · rest · dip

  1. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. object — to protest
  4. rest — what's left
  5. object — an aim
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. face — part of the head
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. object — a thing
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. face — to confront
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. dip — to sink
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. rest — what's left
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. rest — a break
  23. rush — hurry
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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