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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: can · bass · deal · pop · temple · lash

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. pop — music
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. can — a tin
  6. deal — to handle
  7. can — a tin
  8. bass — the fish
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. can — to be able to
  12. bass — low music
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. pop — soda
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. deal — an agreement

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