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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: lash · bay · mark · pitcher · track · stand · bulb · mate

  1. He is an ace ________________.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. track — a song
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. stand — to bear
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. mark — a grade
  9. mark — a trace
  10. track — a path
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. bulb — for light
  13. track — to keep track
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. mate — to breed
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. bulb — for light
  22. mate — a partner
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. mate — a friend

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