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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 120 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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. rest — what's left
  3. march — the month
  4. staff — employees
  5. suit — in cards
  6. suit — to fit
  7. rest — what's left
  8. row — to paddle
  9. march — music
  10. suit — clothes
  11. ground — a position
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. ground — the earth
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. rest — a break
  18. staff — employees
  19. row — a line
  20. game — a match
  21. game — wild animals
  22. ground — crushed
  23. staff — a stick
  24. lash — to lash out

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