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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. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. rash — hasty
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. snap — to click
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. rash — a series
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. track — to keep track
  10. track — a path
  11. stand — to bear
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. ground — the earth
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. rest — what's left
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. rest — what's left
  19. ground — a position
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. rest — a break
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. ground — crushed
  24. snap — to speak sharply

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