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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.

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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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. rush — hurry
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. net — in sport
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. net — after costs
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. wake — a trail
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. bore — to drill
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. season — in sport
  17. bore — to tire
  18. season — of the year
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. cabinet — ministers

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