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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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. staff — employees
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. staff — a stick
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. shower — rain
  11. staff — employees
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. fine — high quality
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. deal — to handle
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. shower — to wash
  23. fine — all right
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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