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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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
YesNo
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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: dip · press · mark · racket · lash · scale · sharp · bear

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  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. scale — size or range
  2. press — newspapers
  3. bear — the animal
  4. mark — a grade
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. sharp — clever
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. mark — a trace
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. press — a publisher
  17. press — to push
  18. bear — the animal
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. dip — to sink
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. scale — in music
  23. bear — to put up with
  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