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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.

Make a worksheet

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. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. track — to keep track
  9. track — a song
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. bear — the animal
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. pop — music
  17. pass — a permit
  18. bear — the animal
  19. foot — a measure
  20. pop — to visit
  21. track — a path
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. pop — soda

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