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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. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. row — to paddle
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. hand — in cards
  6. can — a tin
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. can — to be able to
  11. present — a gift
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. present — the time now
  15. present — there
  16. hand — help
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. pass — a permit
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. row — a line
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. can — a tin
  24. row — a quarrel

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