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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: wave · mark · lash · vault · pass · stock · nail · lie

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. stock — goods
  3. vault — a safe
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. mark — a trace
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. lie — to recline
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. pass — a permit
  20. stock — shares
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. mark — a grade
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. lie — an untruth

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