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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. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. court — of a king
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. mate — a friend
  5. mug — a face
  6. ground — the earth
  7. can — a tin
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. mate — to breed
  10. can — to be able to
  11. can — a tin
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. press — to push
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. lie — to recline
  16. mate — a partner
  17. mug — a cup
  18. press — newspapers
  19. court — for sport
  20. court — of law
  21. ground — a position
  22. mug — to rob
  23. press — a publisher
  24. ground — crushed

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