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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: bass · rock · bowl · arm · chip · shower · rash · cap

  1. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. rock — a stone
  3. cap — a lid
  4. rash — a series
  5. cap — of ice
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. shower — rain
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. shower — a meteor shower
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. cap — a hat
  15. chip — for betting
  16. bass — the fish
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. rock — music
  21. bass — low music
  22. shower — to wash
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. chip — to eat

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