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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. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. prune — to trim
  4. scale — in music
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. plane — a tool
  7. wax — to grow
  8. prune — to trim
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. fine — all right
  13. bass — low music
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. fine — high quality
  16. chair — a professorship
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. scale — size or range
  20. chair — to sit on
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. chair — a leader
  24. bass — the fish

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