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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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. face — part of the head
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. mate — a partner
  6. chip — for betting
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. mate — to breed
  11. key — for a lock
  12. ball — a dance
  13. face — to confront
  14. rush — hurry
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. ball — a great time
  17. face — to point toward
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. mate — a friend
  21. key — the most important part
  22. chip — to eat
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. key — in music

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