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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: pitcher · cabinet · foot · march · toast · bay · lash · can

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. can — to be able to
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. can — a tin
  5. march — music
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. march — the month
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. march — the month
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. can — a tin
  19. foot — a measure
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. toast — bread
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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