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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. kid — child
  3. can — to be able to
  4. content — happy
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. present — there
  8. present — the time now
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. season — of the year
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. can — a tin
  14. content — the amount
  15. firm — steady
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. present — a gift
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. season — in sport
  20. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  21. firm — decided
  22. firm — a company
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. kid — to tease

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