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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.

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. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. The ball is in your ________________.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. mug — a face
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. pass — a permit
  5. scale — size or range
  6. mug — a cup
  7. mug — to rob
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. scale — in music
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. court — of law
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. court — for sport
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. bear — the animal
  18. rash — a series
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. rash — hasty
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. court — of a king

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