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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: fall · pitcher · foot · mug · tube · ruler · rash · lash

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. fall — the season
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. tube — a container
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. mug — a cup
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. tube — the underground
  11. fall — to drop
  12. foot — a measure
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. fall — to drop
  15. mug — to rob
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. rash — hasty
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. mug — a face
  24. rash — a series

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