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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. stock — shares
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. bass — low music
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. bass — the fish
  14. pass — a permit
  15. fine — high quality
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. stock — goods
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. fine — all right

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