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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: track · bowl · mug · kid · lash · cabinet · press · rush

  1. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  2. track — a song
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. rush — hurry
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. press — to push
  10. kid — to tease
  11. mug — to rob
  12. press — newspapers
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. mug — a face
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. track — to keep track
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. press — a publisher
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. mug — a cup
  22. kid — child
  23. track — a path
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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