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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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. net — for catching
  3. net — after costs
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. tube — the underground
  6. lie — to recline
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. rash — hasty
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. pop — music
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. toast — bread
  13. net — in sport
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. pop — soda
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. pop — to visit
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. tube — a container
  23. rash — a series
  24. safe — out of danger

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