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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. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. rock — a stone
  3. scale — size or range
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. tube — the underground
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. firm — decided
  15. firm — steady
  16. scale — in music
  17. stock — goods
  18. rock — music
  19. tube — a container
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. stock — shares

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