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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.

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: mark · racket · cap · dip · fan · lash · bore · bear

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. cap — a lid
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. mark — a trace
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. dip — to sink
  12. bore — to drill
  13. cap — a hat
  14. cap — of ice
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. mark — a grade
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. bore — to tire
  24. bear — the animal

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