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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
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: rush · lash · degree · cue · mug · fan · scale · saw

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. mug — a face
  4. scale — in music
  5. scale — size or range
  6. degree — an amount
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. cue — a hint
  12. degree — temperature
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. degree — from a university
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. mug — a cup
  17. cue — for pool
  18. cue — a signal
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. saw — the tool
  21. mug — to rob
  22. rush — hurry
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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