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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
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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 · jam · rush · foot · bear · mate · track · object

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. mate — a partner
  4. track — to keep track
  5. track — a path
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. mate — a friend
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. object — a thing
  10. object — an aim
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. bear — the animal
  13. foot — a measure
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. object — to protest
  17. mate — to breed
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. rush — hurry
  20. bear — the animal
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. track — a song
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. lash — an eyelash

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