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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  4. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. bark — to shout
  4. bark — a dog's sound
  5. key — for a lock
  6. key — the most important part
  7. shower — to wash
  8. wax — to grow
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. can — to be able to
  11. can — a tin
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. shower — rain
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. key — in music
  20. cue — a hint
  21. can — a tin
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. cue — a signal
  24. lash — to lash out

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