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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.

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: lash · vault · patient · season · roll · suit · mate · leaves

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. suit — to fit
  3. mate — to breed
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. suit — clothes
  7. mate — a partner
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. season — in sport
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. roll — a cake
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. vault — a safe
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. roll — a list
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. mate — a friend
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. season — of the year

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