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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.

Make a worksheet

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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Word bank
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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. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. can — a tin
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. bear — the animal
  9. can — to be able to
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. bear — the animal
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. fine — all right
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. plane — a tool
  18. fine — high quality
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. can — a tin
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. bass — the fish
  24. bear — to put up with

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