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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.

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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: toast · wake · lash · can · staff · mug · bowl · ball

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. staff — employees
  3. ball — a dance
  4. mug — a face
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. can — to be able to
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. mug — a cup
  9. staff — a stick
  10. staff — employees
  11. toast — bread
  12. mug — to rob
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. wake — a trail
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. ball — a great time
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. can — a tin
  24. toast — the most admired

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