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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 is an ace ________________.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. bass — low music
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. stock — goods
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. stock — shares
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. lean — thin
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. cue — for pool
  13. lean — to bend
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. cue — a signal
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. bass — the fish
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. cue — a hint
  24. lash — to lash out

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