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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. ball — a great time
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. rash — a series
  5. snap — to click
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. tube — the underground
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. can — to be able to
  11. can — a tin
  12. ball — a dance
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. rash — hasty
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. rush — hurry
  23. can — a tin
  24. tube — a container

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