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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 120 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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. There's no middle ________________.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. rest — what's left
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. rest — what's left
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. ground — a position
  8. ground — the earth
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. lean — thin
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. stand — to bear
  14. saw — the tool
  15. lean — to bend
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. deal — to handle
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. saw — the tool
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. rest — a break
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. ground — crushed

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