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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: saw · field · key · sharp · bear · season · rush · lash

  1. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. field — a subject
  5. sharp — clever
  6. season — of the year
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. field — farmland
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. saw — the tool
  11. saw — the tool
  12. bear — the animal
  13. rush — hurry
  14. key — for a lock
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. season — in sport
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. key — the most important part
  21. bear — the animal
  22. field — for sport
  23. key — in music
  24. bear — to put up with

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