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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. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. court — of law
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. track — to keep track
  4. mark — a grade
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. spring — a coil
  8. rash — a series
  9. track — a path
  10. spring — the season
  11. cue — for pool
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. mark — a trace
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. cue — a hint
  17. court — of a king
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. court — for sport
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. rash — hasty
  22. spring — of water
  23. track — a song
  24. cue — a signal

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