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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 124 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 spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. can — a tin
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. ball — a dance
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. pitch — completely
  8. can — to be able to
  9. can — a tin
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. ball — a great time
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. bear — the animal
  18. plane — a tool
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. bear — the animal
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. bear — to put up with

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