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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. present — the time now
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. present — there
  5. rash — a series
  6. bank — for money
  7. mug — a face
  8. net — in sport
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. rash — hasty
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. present — a gift
  13. mug — to rob
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. key — in music
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. key — the most important part
  18. bank — for money
  19. net — after costs
  20. key — for a lock
  21. net — for catching
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. bank — of a river

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