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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: row · ball · temple · mouse · bore · saw · lash · rush

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. rush — hurry
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. ball — a dance
  7. row — to paddle
  8. saw — the tool
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. row — a line
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. bore — to drill
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. saw — the tool
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. bore — to tire
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. ball — a great time
  24. mouse — the animal

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