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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. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. cap — of ice
  4. tube — the underground
  5. cap — a hat
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. rest — what's left
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. lean — thin
  13. lean — to bend
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. rest — a break
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. tube — a container
  22. rest — what's left
  23. cap — a lid
  24. bowl — a dish

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