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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 116 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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. cue — a hint
  3. bear — the animal
  4. wake — a trail
  5. bulb — for light
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. stem — to come from
  9. bear — the animal
  10. season — of the year
  11. bulb — for light
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. cue — for pool
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. mug — to rob
  16. mug — a face
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. cue — a signal
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. season — in sport
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. mug — a cup

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