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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 120 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 office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. rock — music
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. staff — employees
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. bear — the animal
  13. row — to paddle
  14. staff — a stick
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. rock — a stone
  18. bear — the animal
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. row — a line
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. ruler — for measuring

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