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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 116 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. There's no middle ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — a position
  2. mug — a cup
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. bear — the animal
  5. ground — the earth
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. squash — to crush
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. squash — the sport
  11. bank — of a river
  12. mug — a face
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. bank — for money
  18. ground — crushed
  19. bear — the animal
  20. bank — for money
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. mug — to rob
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. lash — to lash out

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