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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.

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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 spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  6. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. He was locked up in a ________________.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. deal — to handle
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. cell — a phone
  6. cell — in biology
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. cue — a hint
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. bear — the animal
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. cue — a signal
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. bear — the animal
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. cell — in a prison
  19. cue — for pool
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. lie — to recline
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. deal — an agreement

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