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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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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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. firm — a company
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. firm — steady
  6. bat — for baseball
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. bat — the animal
  9. bank — for money
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. bat — in an idiom
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. firm — decided
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. bank — for money
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. rush — hurry
  24. bank — of a river

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