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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  10. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. bore — to drill
  3. race — a contest
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. content — videos and posts
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. race — humankind
  10. race — the arms race
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. sharp — clever
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. bass — the fish
  16. content — the amount
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. content — happy
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. rush — hurry
  21. bore — to tire
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. bass — low music
  24. rush — to hurry

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