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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. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. kid — child
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. bound — obliged
  4. can — a tin
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. can — a tin
  7. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  8. mark — a trace
  9. season — in sport
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. mark — a grade
  12. can — to be able to
  13. cue — for pool
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. cue — a hint
  16. bound — certain
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. kid — to tease
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. bound — tied together
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. cue — a signal
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. season — of the year

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