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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 soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. dip — to sink
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. pass — a permit
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. root — of a word
  18. drill — a practice
  19. root — of a plant
  20. drill — the tool
  21. root — the cause
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. racket — for tennis

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