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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 116 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: pop · rock · fan · snap · chip · racket · bass · lash

  1. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to snap out of it
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. bass — the fish
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. chip — for betting
  8. rock — a stone
  9. snap — to click
  10. pop — soda
  11. chip — to eat
  12. bass — low music
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. pop — music
  16. snap — to speak sharply
  17. pop — to visit
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. rock — music

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