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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. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. can — to be able to
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. season — in sport
  13. bulb — for light
  14. toast — bread
  15. bank — for money
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. foot — a measure
  18. can — a tin
  19. bank — for money
  20. can — a tin
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. bulb — for light
  23. season — of the year
  24. bank — of a river

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