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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.

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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 · snap · can · ball · lie · rock · degree · bowl

  1. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. degree — an amount
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. rock — a stone
  4. degree — temperature
  5. can — a tin
  6. rock — music
  7. can — a tin
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. can — to be able to
  10. ball — a great time
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. snap — to click
  16. lie — to recline
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. degree — from a university
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. ball — a dance

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