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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. pop — to visit
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. fine — all right
  8. pop — music
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. bound — obliged
  11. pop — soda
  12. perch — the fish
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. bound — certain
  17. bound — tied together
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. rush — hurry
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. racket — for tennis

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