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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.

Make a worksheet

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: lean · mouse · saw · stick · pitcher · rock · lash · track

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  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. mouse — the animal
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. track — a path
  6. track — a song
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. saw — the tool
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. track — to keep track
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. lean — thin
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. rock — a stone
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. lean — to bend
  23. saw — the tool
  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