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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 120 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. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. ball — a dance
  3. bank — for money
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. bank — for money
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. mark — a trace
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. scale — size or range
  13. ball — a great time
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. can — to be able to
  16. scale — in music
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. can — a tin
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. can — a tin
  23. bank — of a river
  24. mark — a grade

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