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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. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. mark — a trace
  3. object — an aim
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. mark — a grade
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. cap — a hat
  10. object — to protest
  11. spell — letters
  12. spell — a short time
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. game — wild animals
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. object — a thing
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. cap — of ice
  21. cap — a lid
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. game — a match
  24. safe — out of danger

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