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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 116 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 would like to have a ________________ here.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. rest — a break
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. rock — a stone
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. hand — in cards
  8. bass — low music
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. hand — help
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. track — to keep track
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. rock — music
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. track — a song
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. rest — what's left
  21. track — a path
  22. rest — what's left
  23. bass — the fish
  24. fan — a supporter

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