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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. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. bass — low music
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. mug — a face
  6. foot — a measure
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. ball — a dance
  9. can — a tin
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. can — to be able to
  12. toast — bread
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. chip — to eat
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. mug — a cup
  17. chip — for betting
  18. can — a tin
  19. mug — to rob
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. stem — to come from
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. ball — a round shape
  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