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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. scale — size or range
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. scale — in music
  6. pop — music
  7. track — a path
  8. suit — in cards
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. season — in sport
  11. suit — to fit
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. bear — the animal
  15. track — a song
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. pop — soda
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. season — of the year
  21. bear — the animal
  22. pop — to visit
  23. sharp — clever
  24. track — to keep track

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