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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. track — a path
  3. present — there
  4. track — a song
  5. present — the time now
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. sharp — clever
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. charge — electricity
  11. suit — clothes
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. track — to keep track
  16. present — a gift
  17. charge — in control
  18. suit — in cards
  19. suit — to fit
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. charge — a price
  24. lash — an eyelash

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