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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.

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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. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. David sat on the ________________.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. date — the fruit
  3. foot — a measure
  4. object — an aim
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. swing — in golf
  8. object — to protest
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. squash — the sport
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. toast — bread
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. squash — to crush
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. swing — to play on
  24. object — a thing

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