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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. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. club — a group
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. club — for golf
  6. ball — a dance
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. ball — a great time
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. shower — rain
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. shower — to wash
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. shower — a meteor shower
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. club — for dancing
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. bass — the fish

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