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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 drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. can — to be able to
  4. mate — to breed
  5. mate — a friend
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. pop — soda
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. can — a tin
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. pop — music
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. bark — to shout
  15. can — a tin
  16. pass — a permit
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. mate — a partner
  22. pop — to visit
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. pitcher — a jug

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