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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. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. David sat on the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. charge — in control
  3. roll — a list
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. swing — in golf
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. charge — a price
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. row — to paddle
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. row — a line
  14. roll — a cake
  15. band — a rubber band
  16. charge — electricity
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. band — a music group
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. band — a ring
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. wax — to grow
  24. swing — to play on

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