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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. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. firm — steady
  4. ball — a dance
  5. bank — of a river
  6. firm — a company
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. pitch — completely
  10. mark — a trace
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. bank — for money
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. ball — a great time
  17. bank — for money
  18. firm — decided
  19. bass — the fish
  20. bass — low music
  21. squash — to crush
  22. mark — a grade
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. squash — the sport

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