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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. deal — to handle
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. march — the month
  5. bass — the fish
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. stock — shares
  8. march — music
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. press — newspapers
  12. press — a publisher
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. stock — goods
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. press — to push
  19. march — the month
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. rock — music
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. bass — low 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