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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.

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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: cabinet · rush · safe · ground · board · hide · lash · game

  1. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. That was a fun ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. rush — hurry
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. ground — the earth
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. ground — a position
  15. game — a match
  16. board — to get on
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. board — a committee
  19. game — wild animals
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. ground — crushed

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