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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. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. bore — to tire
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. bore — to drill
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. mate — to breed
  12. can — a tin
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. can — to be able to
  15. mate — a partner
  16. snap — to click
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. lie — to recline
  19. rush — hurry
  20. can — a tin
  21. mate — a friend
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. snap — to speak sharply

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