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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.

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
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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. fine — high quality
  3. spring — the season
  4. mine — for digging
  5. can — a tin
  6. key — the most important part
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. can — a tin
  11. key — for a lock
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. key — in music
  14. can — to be able to
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. spring — of water
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. fine — all right
  23. perch — the fish
  24. spring — a coil

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