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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 kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. staff — employees
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. chip — for betting
  6. drill — army training
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. can — a tin
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. can — to be able to
  11. ball — a great time
  12. bass — low music
  13. chip — to eat
  14. band — a music group
  15. staff — a stick
  16. drill — a practice
  17. ball — a dance
  18. staff — employees
  19. bass — the fish
  20. can — a tin
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. band — a ring
  23. drill — the tool
  24. trunk — of a tree

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