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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. bear — the animal
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. ball — a dance
  8. chip — for betting
  9. saw — the tool
  10. saw — the tool
  11. ball — a great time
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. spell — magic
  21. spell — letters
  22. bear — the animal
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. chip — to eat

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