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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: wake · mouse · pitcher · lash · capital · fine · toast · mug

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. fine — all right
  3. mug — a cup
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. capital — money
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. capital — a city
  11. mug — a face
  12. wake — a trail
  13. fine — high quality
  14. toast — bread
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. capital — a big letter
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. mug — to rob

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