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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.

Make a worksheet

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: ball · lash · cap · bark · leaves · track · rest · coach

  1. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. rest — what's left
  3. bark — to shout
  4. track — a song
  5. cap — a hat
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. track — a path
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. ball — a dance
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. ball — a great time
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. track — to keep track
  16. rest — what's left
  17. cap — of ice
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. rest — a break

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