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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 ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. band — a ring
  4. band — a music group
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. bank — of a river
  8. rest — what's left
  9. can — to be able to
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. can — a tin
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. band — a rubber band
  14. bear — the animal
  15. bank — for money
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. rest — a break
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. bear — the animal
  21. can — a tin
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. bank — for money
  24. bear — to put up with

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