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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 124 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. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. charge — a price
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. bound — obliged
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. wind — moving air
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. bound — tied together
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. charge — electricity
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. bound — certain
  15. wind — moving air
  16. charge — in control
  17. dip — to sink
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. mark — a grade
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. mark — a trace
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. wind — to turn a key

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