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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. can — to be able to
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. hand — help
  6. hand — in cards
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. bound — obliged
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. cue — for pool
  12. rock — music
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. rock — a stone
  15. can — a tin
  16. cue — a hint
  17. can — a tin
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. bound — tied together
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. cue — a signal
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. bound — certain

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