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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 120 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. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. ball — a great time
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. bass — the fish
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — a tin
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. rash — hasty
  15. suit — to fit
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. bass — low music
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. ball — a dance
  21. rash — a series
  22. suit — in cards
  23. can — to be able to
  24. suit — clothes

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