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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. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. tube — a container
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. tube — the underground
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. mark — a grade
  18. bass — the fish
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. mark — a trace
  24. tube — in a tire

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