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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. present — a gift
  3. ball — a great time
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. present — there
  8. staff — employees
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. board — a committee
  11. staff — employees
  12. ball — a dance
  13. fine — all right
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. bass — the fish
  16. staff — a stick
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. board — to get on
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. bass — low music
  24. present — the time now

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