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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 116 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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. key — for a lock
  3. mug — a cup
  4. rash — hasty
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. key — the most important part
  9. root — the cause
  10. ground — a position
  11. ground — the earth
  12. mug — to rob
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. rash — a series
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. root — of a plant
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. root — of a word
  20. ground — crushed
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. mug — a face
  24. key — in music

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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