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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. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. bulb — for light
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. mark — a trace
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. rock — a stone
  12. rock — music
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. prune — to trim
  15. prune — to trim
  16. bulb — for light
  17. kick — in football
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. mark — a grade
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. net — after costs
  23. net — for catching
  24. kick — 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