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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. rash — a series
  4. stock — shares
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. row — a line
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. row — to paddle
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. tube — the underground
  16. tube — a container
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. rash — hasty
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. stock — goods
  23. stand — to bear
  24. lash — an eyelash

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