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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. mug — to rob
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. wake — a trail
  6. deal — to handle
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. roll — a cake
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. roll — a list
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. content — the amount
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. mug — a face
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. mug — a cup
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. content — happy
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. pass — a permit
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. content — videos and posts

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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