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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. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. track — to keep track
  3. march — the month
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. bass — the fish
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. track — a path
  10. cue — for pool
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. cue — a signal
  13. can — a tin
  14. cue — a hint
  15. march — the month
  16. can — a tin
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. bass — low music
  19. track — a song
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. can — to be able to

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