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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. content — the amount
  3. rock — a stone
  4. object — to protest
  5. mark — a trace
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. spell — magic
  12. content — happy
  13. rock — music
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. rush — hurry
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. object — an aim
  18. spell — letters
  19. spell — a short time
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. stand — to bear
  24. mark — a grade

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