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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. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. pit — in a race
  4. bound — certain
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. file — a line of people
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. bound — obliged
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. file — a document
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. file — a tool
  17. rock — a stone
  18. saw — the tool
  19. bound — tied together
  20. saw — the tool
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. rock — music
  24. pit — a hole

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