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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 second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  9. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  10. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — money
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. pound — a weight
  9. pound — for dogs
  10. pound — to hit hard
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. saw — the tool
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. capital — a city
  19. saw — the tool
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. lie — to recline
  24. capital — a big letter

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