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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 116 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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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: lash · stick · court · can · deal · mark · spring · snap

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The ball is in your ________________.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. mark — a grade
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. spring — of water
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. deal — to handle
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. court — for sport
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. can — a tin
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. court — of law
  17. mark — a trace
  18. can — a tin
  19. spring — the season
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. court — of a king
  22. spring — a coil
  23. can — to be able to
  24. snap — to click

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