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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. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. firm — steady
  3. season — of the year
  4. rash — a series
  5. rash — hasty
  6. season — in sport
  7. prune — to trim
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. bass — low music
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. prune — to trim
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. ball — a great time
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. firm — decided
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. bass — the fish
  19. club — for golf
  20. ball — a dance
  21. club — a group
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. club — for dancing
  24. firm — a company

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