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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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. rush — hurry
  3. board — a committee
  4. staff — a stick
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. cue — a signal
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. staff — employees
  9. staff — employees
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. bulb — for light
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. bulb — for light
  18. cue — for pool
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. board — to get on
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. cue — a hint
  24. mouse — the animal

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