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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 spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. mate — to breed
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. bulb — for light
  6. fine — high quality
  7. cue — a hint
  8. rock — music
  9. bulb — for light
  10. cue — a signal
  11. mate — a partner
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. bore — to tire
  16. cue — for pool
  17. fine — all right
  18. capital — a big letter
  19. bore — to drill
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. rock — a stone
  22. capital — a city
  23. mate — a friend
  24. capital — money

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