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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. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. club — for dancing
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. firm — decided
  4. rush — hurry
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. club — for golf
  7. firm — steady
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. ball — a great time
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. ball — a dance
  12. club — a group
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. firm — a company
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. ball — a round shape

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