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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. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. shower — rain
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. mug — to rob
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. plane — a tool
  7. shower — to wash
  8. rock — music
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. mug — a face
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. mug — a cup
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. fine — all right
  16. fine — high quality
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. rock — a stone
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. ball — a great time
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. snap — to click

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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