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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: can · saw · hand · mouse · ball · mate · fork · lash

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. fork — in a road
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. saw — the tool
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. can — a tin
  7. ball — a great time
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — to be able to
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. saw — the tool
  15. hand — in cards
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. hand — help
  19. mate — to breed
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. mate — a partner
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. mate — a friend

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