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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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. prune — to trim
  4. snap — to click
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. foot — a measure
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. net — in sport
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. suit — to fit
  13. bore — to drill
  14. net — after costs
  15. suit — in cards
  16. bear — the animal
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. net — for catching
  19. bear — the animal
  20. prune — to trim
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. suit — clothes
  24. bore — to tire

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