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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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. chip — for betting
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. firm — decided
  7. wax — to grow
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. firm — steady
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. rash — a series
  13. chip — to eat
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. stand — to bear
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. march — the month
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. march — the month
  23. firm — a company
  24. rash — hasty

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