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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. track — a song
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. ball — a great time
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. suit — in cards
  8. track — to keep track
  9. suit — to fit
  10. ball — a dance
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. firm — a company
  13. suit — clothes
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. track — a path
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. firm — steady

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