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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 felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. charge — a price
  3. pit — in a race
  4. charge — electricity
  5. pit — a hole
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. can — a tin
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. snap — to click
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. can — to be able to
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. mine — for digging
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. can — a tin
  23. charge — in control
  24. fan — to cool the air

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