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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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  5. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. pass — a permit
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. chest — a box
  5. chest — of your body
  6. roll — a list
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. dip — to sink
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. net — in sport
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. net — for catching
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. bass — the fish
  17. net — after costs
  18. bass — low music
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. roll — a cake
  23. chest — of your body
  24. temple — a place of worship

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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