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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. drill — army training
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. rest — what's left
  6. bass — the fish
  7. deal — to handle
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. rash — hasty
  10. drill — a practice
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. rest — a break
  13. rash — a series
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. bass — low music
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. snap — to click
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. drill — the tool
  22. rest — what's left
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. stand — to bear

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