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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. pitch — completely
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. mug — to rob
  5. mug — a cup
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. cap — of ice
  10. cap — a lid
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. rush — hurry
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. roll — a cake
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. pass — a permit
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. cap — a hat
  20. toast — bread
  21. roll — a list
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. roll — on a roll

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