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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: ruler · lash · row · jam · season · spring · hide · chip

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. season — of the year
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. spring — the season
  5. season — in sport
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. chip — to eat
  8. spring — a coil
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. row — to paddle
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. row — a line
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. spring — of water
  21. chip — for betting
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. row — a quarrel
  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