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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. The water is too ________________.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. bass — low music
  6. cold — an illness
  7. suit — to fit
  8. root — the cause
  9. root — of a plant
  10. hand — in cards
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. suit — in cards
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. board — to get on
  16. hand — help
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. cold — the Cold War
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. board — a committee
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. cold — not warm
  23. bass — the fish
  24. root — of a word

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