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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. He was locked up in a ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. cell — in a prison
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. saw — the tool
  5. suit — clothes
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. object — to protest
  8. object — a thing
  9. saw — the tool
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. tube — a container
  12. suit — to fit
  13. tube — the underground
  14. suit — in cards
  15. cell — a phone
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. rush — hurry
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. object — an aim
  22. cell — in biology
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. rush — a thrill

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