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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: lash · bay · saw · rock · kid · can · rush · mouse

  1. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  17. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. kid — to tease
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. rock — a stone
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. can — to be able to
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. rock — music
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. saw — the tool
  14. saw — the tool
  15. rush — hurry
  16. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  17. kid — child
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. can — a tin
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. can — a tin

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