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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.

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 · march · pitcher · kick · bay · lash · patient · firm

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  16. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  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. bay — a part of the sea
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. firm — steady
  5. kick — in football
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. firm — a company
  8. march — the month
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. march — the month
  11. kick — a thrill
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. kick — with a leg
  16. march — music
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. firm — decided
  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