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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. The ball is in your ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. bore — to tire
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. chip — for betting
  8. bore — to drill
  9. squash — to crush
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. spell — letters
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. spell — magic
  14. court — of a king
  15. chip — to eat
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. squash — the sport
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. court — for sport
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. court — of law
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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