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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 spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. mark — a grade
  4. saw — the tool
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. bound — obliged
  7. file — a document
  8. scale — in music
  9. file — a tool
  10. bound — tied together
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. saw — the tool
  13. rest — a break
  14. file — a line of people
  15. bound — certain
  16. mark — a trace
  17. stand — to bear
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. scale — size or range
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. rest — what's left
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. rest — what's left

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