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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. face — to point toward
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. bat — in an idiom
  9. face — to confront
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. face — part of the head
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. bat — the animal
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. deal — to handle
  19. dip — to sink
  20. bat — for baseball
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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