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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. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. mate — a friend
  3. toast — bread
  4. season — of the year
  5. mark — a trace
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. march — the month
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. season — in sport
  11. march — the month
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. march — music
  16. mate — a partner
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. mark — a grade
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. mate — to breed
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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