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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. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  2. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  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. straw — a straw man
  2. straw — to clutch at straws
  3. mark — a grade
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. bore — to tire
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. cap — of ice
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. straw — dry grass
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. cap — a lid
  14. mark — a trace
  15. bulb — for light
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. bulb — for light
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. cap — a hat
  22. bore — to drill
  23. rush — hurry
  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