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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
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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: toast · cue · lean · spell · lash · degree · rock · mug

  1. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. degree — from a university
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. degree — an amount
  5. cue — for pool
  6. spell — a short time
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. degree — temperature
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. mug — to rob
  12. cue — a hint
  13. spell — letters
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. mug — a face
  16. toast — bread
  17. lean — thin
  18. mug — a cup
  19. lean — to bend
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. cue — a signal
  22. spell — magic
  23. rock — music
  24. rock — a stone

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