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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. can — a tin
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. can — to be able to
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. mark — a grade
  11. snap — to click
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. mark — a trace
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. perch — the fish
  19. can — a tin
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. fine — high quality
  22. fine — all right
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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