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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: scale · wave · lash · mark · bank · ball · stock · suit

  1. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. suit — to fit
  4. mark — a grade
  5. suit — in cards
  6. stock — goods
  7. scale — size or range
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. mark — a trace
  10. bank — for money
  11. ball — a dance
  12. bank — of a river
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. scale — in music
  16. suit — clothes
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. bank — for money
  22. stock — shares
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. ball — a great time

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