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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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468
Word bank
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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 thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. ball — a dance
  9. craft — a skill
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. craft — boats
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. bulb — for light
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. ball — a great time
  24. bulb — for light

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