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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. stock — goods
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. vault — a safe
  7. pass — a permit
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. spring — the season
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. pitch — completely
  15. stock — shares
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. spring — a coil
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. spring — of water
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. stock — a soup base

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