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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.

Make a worksheet

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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. squash — the sport
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. rock — a stone
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. squash — to crush
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. rock — music
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. rush — hurry
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. rock — to move gently

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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