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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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Word bank
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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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. mug — a cup
  4. root — of a plant
  5. pit — a hole
  6. mine — for digging
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. wound — an injury
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. ball — a great time
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. root — of a word
  14. mug — a face
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. root — the cause
  19. pit — in a race
  20. ball — a dance
  21. mug — to rob
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. toast — bread
  24. wound — an injury

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