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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 116 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: bark · rest · scale · lash · spell · squash · track · lean

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. rest — what's left
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. lean — to bend
  5. bark — to shout
  6. track — a path
  7. scale — in music
  8. bark — of a tree
  9. track — to keep track
  10. spell — magic
  11. squash — to crush
  12. spell — a short time
  13. track — a song
  14. squash — the sport
  15. lean — thin
  16. spell — letters
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. rest — a break
  20. scale — size or range
  21. bark — a dog's sound
  22. rest — what's left
  23. lean — to rest against
  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