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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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. last — finally
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. rock — a stone
  5. board — to get on
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. bass — the fish
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. stock — shares
  11. cue — for pool
  12. last — final
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. stock — goods
  17. bass — low music
  18. rock — music
  19. last — to go on
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. board — a committee
  24. cue — a signal

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