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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 116 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. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  11. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  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. content — videos and posts
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. content — the amount
  8. plane — a tool
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. club — for dancing
  11. content — happy
  12. club — a group
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. tube — the underground
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. club — for golf
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. can — a tin
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — to be able to
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  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