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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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. fine — high quality
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. shower — rain
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. shower — to wash
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. wake — a trail
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. pass — a permit
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. fine — all right

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