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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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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 · mark · toast · leaves · rock · chip · fall · nail

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. fall — to drop
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. chip — to eat
  5. mark — a grade
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. fall — the season
  11. rock — a stone
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. fall — to drop
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. toast — bread
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. rock — music
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. mark — a trace
  24. chip — for betting

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