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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. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. He was locked up in a ________________.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. squash — to crush
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. bass — the fish
  6. bass — low music
  7. cell — a phone
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. toast — bread
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. stand — to bear
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. cell — in a prison
  20. squash — the sport
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. hide — animal skin

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