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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. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to snap out of it
  2. mug — a cup
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. mug — a face
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. toast — bread
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. snap — to click
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. perch — the fish
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. mark — a grade
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. mark — a trace
  24. mug — to rob

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