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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. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  8. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. pound — a weight
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. rash — hasty
  6. key — the most important part
  7. pound — to hit hard
  8. band — a music group
  9. key — in music
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. rash — a series
  15. band — a ring
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. pound — for dogs
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. key — for a lock
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. leaves — lets stay

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