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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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. chip — to eat
  4. can — a tin
  5. rash — a series
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. rock — music
  9. ball — a dance
  10. can — to be able to
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. can — a tin
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. stem — to come from
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. chip — for betting
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. rash — hasty
  23. rock — a stone
  24. ball — a great time

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