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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. pop — to visit
  3. court — for sport
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. mug — to rob
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. bear — the animal
  8. can — a tin
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. can — a tin
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. court — of law
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. can — to be able to
  15. bear — the animal
  16. toast — bread
  17. pop — music
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. mug — a face
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. court — of a king
  24. pop — soda

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