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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. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. sharp — clever
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. fall — the season
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. mark — a grade
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. fall — to drop
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. fall — to drop
  22. mark — a trace
  23. pass — a permit
  24. fan — a supporter

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