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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. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. staff — a stick
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. board — a committee
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. staff — employees
  12. board — to get on
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. fork — in a road
  22. wake — a trail
  23. staff — employees
  24. fork — to eat with

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