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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.

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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: lash · bowl · bay · swing · mine · leaves · mark · chair

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  16. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  17. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  18. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. mark — a trace
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. chair — to sit on
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. mark — a grade
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. chair — a leader
  16. swing — in golf
  17. swing — music
  18. chair — a professorship
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. swing — to play on
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. mine — for digging
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. bowl — a football final

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