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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. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. bound — tied together
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. spell — magic
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. pass — a permit
  13. bound — obliged
  14. spell — a short time
  15. toast — bread
  16. row — to paddle
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. spell — letters
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. rush — hurry
  23. bound — certain
  24. row — a quarrel

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