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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 120 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: saw · shower · bark · bass · foot · rash · stick · mark

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  18. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  19. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. mark — a grade
  4. saw — the tool
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. shower — rain
  7. bass — the fish
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. bass — low music
  10. shower — to wash
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. bark — of a tree
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. bark — to shout
  18. bark — a dog's sound
  19. shower — a meteor shower
  20. saw — the tool
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. foot — a measure
  23. rash — hasty
  24. mark — a trace

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