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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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. staff — a stick
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. staff — employees
  13. can — a tin
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. staff — employees
  16. plane — a tool
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. saw — the tool
  19. can — to be able to
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. saw — the tool
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. can — a tin
  24. lash — an eyelash

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