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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 120 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.

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. When are we going to ________________?
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. land — to come down
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. press — newspapers
  5. key — the most important part
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. land — ground
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. key — in music
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. press — a publisher
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. land — a country
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. key — for a lock
  19. press — to push
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. temple — a place of worship

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