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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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Word bank
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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. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. swing — in golf
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. deal — to handle
  5. pit — in a race
  6. toast — bread
  7. swing — to play on
  8. ball — a great time
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. pit — a hole
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. rock — music
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. ball — a dance
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. rule — government
  20. rock — a stone
  21. rule — to rule out
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. rule — a law
  24. swing — 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