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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
468
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: fan · scale · mine · stock · face · fine · cap · lash

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. stock — goods
  3. face — to confront
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. cap — a hat
  6. cap — a lid
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. fine — high quality
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. cap — of ice
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. stock — shares
  15. face — to point toward
  16. face — part of the head
  17. fine — all right
  18. mine — for digging
  19. scale — size or range
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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