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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 120 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. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. staff — employees
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. wound — an injury
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. wound — an injury
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. staff — a stick
  14. staff — employees
  15. shower — to wash
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. bore — to tire
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. shower — rain
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. bore — to drill

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