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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: lash · mate · nail · fine · bass · game · toast · can

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. can — to be able to
  4. can — a tin
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. bass — low music
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. fine — all right
  9. mate — to breed
  10. mate — a friend
  11. mate — a partner
  12. fine — high quality
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. toast — bread
  16. can — a tin
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. game — a match
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. game — wild animals
  23. bass — the fish
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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