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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 116 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: lash · pass · rush · deal · bound · pop · saw · mug

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. mug — a face
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. bound — tied together
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. saw — the tool
  9. pop — soda
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. saw — the tool
  13. mug — to rob
  14. pass — a permit
  15. bound — obliged
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. pop — music
  18. bound — certain
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. rush — hurry
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. mug — a cup
  24. pop — to visit

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