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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
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: pit · bass · lash · nail · lean · track · cabinet · perch

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. pit — in a race
  7. track — to keep track
  8. bass — the fish
  9. lean — to bend
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. bass — low music
  15. perch — the fish
  16. pit — a hole
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. track — a song
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. lean — thin
  24. cabinet — ministers

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