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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. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. deal — to handle
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. cap — of ice
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. mine — for digging
  10. tube — the underground
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. tube — a container
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. mate — to breed
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. mate — a partner
  19. mate — a friend
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. cap — a lid
  23. lie — to recline
  24. cap — a hat

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