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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. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. rash — a series
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. net — in sport
  5. firm — steady
  6. roll — a cake
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. net — for catching
  9. roll — a list
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. bass — low music
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. suit — clothes
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. firm — a company
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. suit — in cards
  18. net — after costs
  19. rash — hasty
  20. bass — the fish
  21. content — the amount
  22. firm — decided
  23. suit — to fit
  24. content — happy

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