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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. mug — a face
  5. wax — to grow
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. tube — the underground
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. game — a match
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. tube — a container
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. mug — a cup
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. mug — to rob
  24. game — wild animals

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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