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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 pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  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. game — wild animals
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. present — there
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. present — the time now
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. game — a match
  14. mark — a grade
  15. present — a gift
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. game — a kind of play
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. mark — a trace
  22. wax — to grow
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  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