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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. mug — a cup
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. club — for dancing
  11. club — a group
  12. club — for golf
  13. chip — for betting
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. mug — to rob
  18. bear — the animal
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. chip — to eat
  21. bear — the animal
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. leaves — lets stay
  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