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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. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. can — a tin
  4. can — to be able to
  5. march — the month
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. can — a tin
  8. march — the month
  9. lie — to recline
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. bowl — a dish

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