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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.

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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: leaves · lash · last · face · cue · roll · mug · mark

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. cue — a signal
  5. roll — a list
  6. face — to point toward
  7. mark — a trace
  8. mug — a cup
  9. cue — a hint
  10. cue — for pool
  11. face — part of the head
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. mug — to rob
  14. last — to go on
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. last — final
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. last — finally
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. roll — a cake
  21. face — to confront
  22. mug — a face
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. mark — to pay attention

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