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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.

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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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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: rest · lash · bay · ball · deal · mug · dip · ruler

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. mug — a face
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. rest — what's left
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. ball — a great time
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. rest — a break
  11. mug — a cup
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. ball — a dance
  15. deal — to handle
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. mug — to rob
  20. dip — to sink
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. rest — what's left
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. deal — an agreement

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