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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. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. mug — to rob
  5. cue — for pool
  6. mug — a cup
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. cue — a signal
  12. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. spell — letters
  15. toast — bread
  16. kid — child
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. mug — a face
  19. kid — to tease
  20. spell — magic
  21. cue — a hint
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. spell — a short time
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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