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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 play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. bass — low music
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. bass — the fish
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. rush — hurry
  11. cue — a signal
  12. season — in sport
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. cue — for pool
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. rock — a stone
  17. rock — music
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. sharp — clever
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. cue — a hint
  22. season — of the year
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. sharp — with an edge

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