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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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. squash — the sport
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. chip — for betting
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. squash — the vegetable
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. rush — hurry
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. staff — employees
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. chip — to eat
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. staff — a stick
  21. deal — to handle
  22. squash — to crush
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. staff — employees

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