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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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. can — a tin
  3. rash — hasty
  4. net — after costs
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. face — to confront
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. rash — a series
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. can — a tin
  12. pop — to visit
  13. pop — soda
  14. fine — all right
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. net — in sport
  17. face — part of the head
  18. can — to be able to
  19. face — to point toward
  20. net — for catching
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. fine — high quality
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. pop — music

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