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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: ruler · firm · rush · bay · pop · lash · foot · plane

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. firm — a company
  4. plane — a tool
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. rush — hurry
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. pop — soda
  13. pop — music
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. firm — steady
  18. firm — decided
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. foot — a measure
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. pop — to visit
  24. lash — an eyelash

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