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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: mate · bowl · rock · straw · patient · lash · rush · mark

  1. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — to clutch at straws
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. straw — a straw man
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. rush — hurry
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. mate — to breed
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. mark — a trace
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. rock — music
  17. mate — a partner
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. mate — a friend
  20. straw — dry grass
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. mark — a grade
  23. rock — a stone
  24. rush — a thrill

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