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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 120 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 was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  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. wind — moving air
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. fork — in a road
  4. can — to be able to
  5. wind — to turn a key
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. mug — a face
  8. track — to keep track
  9. fork — to eat with
  10. can — a tin
  11. can — a tin
  12. key — the most important part
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. wind — moving air
  17. key — for a lock
  18. track — a song
  19. mug — a cup
  20. mug — to rob
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. key — in music
  23. track — a path
  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