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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. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. pound — for dogs
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. pound — a weight
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. can — a tin
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. face — to confront
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. sharp — clever
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. can — a tin
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. can — to be able to
  16. pass — a permit
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. rush — hurry
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. pound — to hit hard
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. face — part of the head

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