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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 120 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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. staff — employees
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. mug — a face
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. staff — a stick
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. ground — a position
  13. foot — a measure
  14. staff — employees
  15. mug — to rob
  16. bass — the fish
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. bass — low music
  19. ground — the earth
  20. ground — crushed
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. mug — a cup
  23. rush — hurry
  24. foot — part of the body

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