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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.

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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. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. chip — to eat
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. saw — the tool
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. chip — for betting
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. can — a tin
  9. rest — a break
  10. perch — the fish
  11. rock — a stone
  12. saw — the tool
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. rest — what's left
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. can — to be able to
  17. rock — music
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. can — a tin
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. rest — what's left
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. pitcher — a jug

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