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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. Did you ________________ the meat?
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. season — to add flavour
  2. march — the month
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. march — the month
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. can — to be able to
  7. firm — a company
  8. staff — a stick
  9. firm — steady
  10. pit — in a race
  11. march — music
  12. rush — hurry
  13. pit — a hole
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. season — of the year
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. can — a tin
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. firm — decided
  20. season — in sport
  21. staff — employees
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. can — a tin
  24. staff — employees

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