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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. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. staff — employees
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. can — to be able to
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. present — there
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. present — a gift
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. rush — hurry
  16. can — a tin
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. can — a tin
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. present — the time now
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. staff — employees
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. staff — a stick

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