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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: can · toast · lash · pitcher · bore · plane

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. 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. lash — a whip stroke
  2. plane — a tool
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. bore — to tire
  6. can — to be able to
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. can — a tin
  9. can — a tin
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. bore — to drill
  16. toast — bread
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. 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