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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 120 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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. lean — to bend
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. spell — magic
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. rock — a stone
  9. lean — thin
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. pound — to hit hard
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. rock — music
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. spell — letters
  19. spell — a short time
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. pass — a permit
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. pound — a weight
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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