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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 120 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 ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. wind — moving air
  4. mug — to rob
  5. prune — to trim
  6. wind — moving air
  7. mug — a cup
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. deal — to handle
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. rest — what's left
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. saw — the tool
  14. prune — to trim
  15. rest — a break
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. wind — to turn a key
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. saw — the tool
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. mug — a face

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