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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: mug · present · tube · toast · lash · racket · rash · object

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. present — there
  3. mug — a face
  4. mug — a cup
  5. object — an aim
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. present — the time now
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. present — a gift
  11. object — to protest
  12. rash — hasty
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. toast — bread
  18. tube — the underground
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. object — a thing
  22. rash — a series
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. mug — to rob

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