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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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. spell — a short time
  4. spell — magic
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. spell — letters
  7. prune — to trim
  8. mark — a trace
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. mark — a grade
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. board — to get on
  13. board — a committee
  14. cue — for pool
  15. suit — to fit
  16. pass — a permit
  17. suit — clothes
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. prune — to trim
  22. cue — a signal
  23. cue — a hint
  24. suit — in cards

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