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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.

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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. bank — of a river
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. cue — a signal
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. bass — the fish
  8. rush — hurry
  9. stock — goods
  10. bank — for money
  11. cue — a hint
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. stock — shares
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. bank — for money
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. scale — in music
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. cue — for pool
  24. bass — low music

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