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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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. rock — music
  3. rock — a stone
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. mark — a trace
  6. straw — dry grass
  7. bulb — for light
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. spell — letters
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. straw — to clutch at straws
  12. spell — magic
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. mark — a grade
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. bulb — for light
  20. straw — a straw man
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. rock — to move gently

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