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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: can · firm · lash · wave · nail · key · stock · tube

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. key — for a lock
  4. firm — decided
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. can — a tin
  8. firm — steady
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. key — in music
  13. key — the most important part
  14. tube — a container
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. can — to be able to
  19. stock — shares
  20. stock — goods
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. firm — a company
  24. tube — the underground

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