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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 felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. deal — to handle
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. track — to keep track
  7. face — part of the head
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. bass — the fish
  10. track — a path
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. bear — the animal
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. track — a song
  15. face — to point toward
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. face — to confront
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. bear — the animal
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. bass — low music
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. nail — for a hammer

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