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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. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. rock — music
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. hand — in cards
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. hand — help
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. bound — certain
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. bound — obliged
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. bound — tied together
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. rock — a stone
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. stand — on your feet

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