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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: season · lash · lie · bowl · charge · temple · pitcher · saw

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. charge — a price
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. season — in sport
  12. charge — in control
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. lie — to recline
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. saw — the tool
  17. season — of the year
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. charge — electricity
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. season — to add flavour

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