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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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. hand — help
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. mark — a trace
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. tube — a container
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. hand — in cards
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. ball — a great time
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. mark — a grade
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. tube — the underground
  21. ball — a dance
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. lash — to lash out

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