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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 · rock · spell · bear · prune · suit · hand · wave

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. spell — a short time
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. spell — letters
  5. spell — magic
  6. bear — the animal
  7. hand — help
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. hand — in cards
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. suit — clothes
  13. bear — the animal
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. suit — to fit
  16. rock — a stone
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. prune — to trim
  19. rock — music
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. suit — in cards
  23. prune — to trim
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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