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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 120 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: stand · can · mouse · lash · band · tear · bear · mug

  1. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. tear — from crying
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. stand — to bear
  5. bear — the animal
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. tear — to rip
  10. mug — a cup
  11. mug — a face
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. can — to be able to
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. can — a tin
  17. band — a music group
  18. band — a ring
  19. bear — the animal
  20. tear — from crying
  21. mug — to rob
  22. can — a tin
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. bear — to put up with

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