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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 play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. foot — a measure
  3. bass — the fish
  4. suit — in cards
  5. ground — the earth
  6. roll — a cake
  7. bulb — for light
  8. ground — crushed
  9. bass — low music
  10. suit — clothes
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. bulb — for light
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. roll — a list
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. firm — a company
  18. suit — to fit
  19. firm — decided
  20. firm — steady
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. pass — a permit
  24. ground — a position

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