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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 thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. rash — hasty
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. drill — the tool
  10. lean — to bend
  11. rash — a series
  12. drill — a practice
  13. drill — army training
  14. mark — a trace
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. mine — for digging
  23. mark — a grade
  24. lean — thin

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