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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 124 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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. The ball is in your ________________.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. lean — to bend
  3. saw — the tool
  4. court — of a king
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. saw — the tool
  7. court — for sport
  8. mate — a friend
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. date — the fruit
  12. court — of law
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. mate — to breed
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. mate — a partner
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. lean — thin
  24. deal — to handle

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