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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. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  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. ball — a round shape
  2. last — finally
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. ball — a dance
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. tube — a container
  9. current — of water
  10. sharp — clever
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. current — electric
  13. last — final
  14. last — to go on
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. tube — the underground
  19. lie — to recline
  20. ball — a great time
  21. current — happening now
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. bowl — to roll
  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