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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. can — to be able to
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. toast — bread
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. content — videos and posts
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. can — a tin
  9. charge — electricity
  10. content — the amount
  11. can — a tin
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. bound — obliged
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. charge — a price
  19. content — happy
  20. bound — certain
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. saw — the tool
  23. charge — in control
  24. bound — tied together

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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