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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.

Make a worksheet

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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. rock — music
  3. content — the amount
  4. can — a tin
  5. rash — hasty
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. rash — a series
  8. key — the most important part
  9. content — happy
  10. can — a tin
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. content — videos and posts
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. squash — the sport
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. squash — to crush
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. rock — a stone
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. key — in music
  23. can — to be able to
  24. key — for a lock

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