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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: fine · pitcher · bass · safe · staff · spell · lash · fan

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. fine — all right
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. spell — a short time
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. bass — the fish
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. staff — employees
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. spell — magic
  18. spell — letters
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. fine — high quality
  23. bass — low music
  24. staff — a stick

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