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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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. can — to be able to
  3. scale — size or range
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. can — a tin
  6. suit — in cards
  7. race — humankind
  8. suit — clothes
  9. mug — to rob
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. can — a tin
  13. root — the cause
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. root — of a word
  16. suit — to fit
  17. mug — a cup
  18. root — of a plant
  19. race — the arms race
  20. file — a document
  21. race — a contest
  22. file — a line of people
  23. mug — a face
  24. file — a tool

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