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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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. bear — the animal
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. track — to keep track
  8. key — for a lock
  9. key — the most important part
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. pitch — completely
  15. track — a path
  16. prune — to trim
  17. key — in music
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. track — a song
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. squash — to crush
  22. bear — the animal
  23. prune — to trim
  24. squash — the sport

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