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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 120 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. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. suit — to fit
  4. firm — steady
  5. stock — shares
  6. stock — goods
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. fine — high quality
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. firm — decided
  12. firm — a company
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. bass — the fish
  15. ball — a dance
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. bass — low music
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. suit — clothes
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. dip — to sink
  23. fine — all right
  24. suit — in cards

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