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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. rush — hurry
  5. object — an aim
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. stock — shares
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. rash — hasty
  12. rash — a series
  13. ball — a dance
  14. stock — goods
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. object — a thing
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. ball — a great time
  21. object — to protest
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. can — a tin
  24. can — to be able to

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