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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. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. spell — a short time
  7. rush — hurry
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. spell — magic
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. charge — a price
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. charge — in control
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. pass — a permit
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. spell — letters
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. charge — electricity
  24. rush — a thrill

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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