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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. chest — a box
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. chest — of your body
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. chest — of your body
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. pop — soda
  17. pop — to visit
  18. mine — for digging
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. stand — to bear

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