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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. mark — a trace
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. band — a music group
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. bank — for money
  7. ball — a dance
  8. mark — a grade
  9. band — a rubber band
  10. chip — for betting
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. squash — to crush
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. chip — to eat
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. bank — for money
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. squash — the sport
  19. band — a ring
  20. bank — of a river
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. ball — a great time

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