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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: pit · jam · ground · cue · stock · lash · cabinet · bass

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. pit — a hole
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. bass — the fish
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. pit — in a race
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. ground — a position
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. stock — shares
  16. cue — a signal
  17. cue — for pool
  18. ground — crushed
  19. stock — goods
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. cue — a hint
  24. bass — low music

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