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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
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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: pitcher · jam · pit · bowl · shower · ball · hide · lash

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. shower — to wash
  4. shower — a meteor shower
  5. pit — in a race
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. shower — rain
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. ball — a great time
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. ball — a dance
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. pit — a hole
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. hide — to keep secret

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