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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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. scale — size or range
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. root — the cause
  5. net — for catching
  6. vault — a safe
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. scale — in music
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. saw — the tool
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. saw — the tool
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. root — of a word
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. vault — an arched ceiling
  20. net — after costs
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. root — of a plant
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. net — in sport

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