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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. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. mark — a trace
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. mark — a grade
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. bound — obliged
  11. bark — to shout
  12. mate — a friend
  13. ball — a dance
  14. bound — certain
  15. bark — a dog's sound
  16. bass — low music
  17. mate — a partner
  18. mate — to breed
  19. bound — tied together
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. bark — of a tree
  23. bass — the fish
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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