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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. can — a tin
  3. face — to confront
  4. bulb — for light
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. rock — music
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. bulb — for light
  9. mug — a cup
  10. mug — to rob
  11. pitch — completely
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. rock — a stone
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. can — a tin
  17. face — part of the head
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. face — to point toward
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. can — to be able to
  24. lash — to lash out

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