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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. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. cue — for pool
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. cue — a signal
  10. can — a tin
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. cue — a hint
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. can — to be able to
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. rush — hurry
  20. can — a tin
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. fork — in a road
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. fork — a garden tool

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