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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.

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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: shower · firm · pitcher · mark · bass · lash · content · mug

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. shower — rain
  3. content — the amount
  4. mug — a face
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. firm — steady
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. mug — to rob
  9. firm — decided
  10. mug — a cup
  11. firm — a company
  12. shower — to wash
  13. mark — a grade
  14. content — videos and posts
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. content — happy
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. bass — low music
  23. bass — the fish
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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