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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: fan · lie · fine · date · firm · bark · lash · board

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. board — to get on
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. lie — to recline
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. bark — to shout
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. date — the fruit
  11. fine — high quality
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. bark — of a tree
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. firm — a company
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. fine — all right
  22. firm — decided
  23. firm — steady
  24. board — a committee

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