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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 120 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. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. ball — a great time
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. object — a thing
  7. ball — a dance
  8. chip — to eat
  9. key — for a lock
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. bass — low music
  12. key — in music
  13. bass — the fish
  14. object — to protest
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. key — the most important part
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. deal — to handle
  20. chip — for betting
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. object — an aim
  24. mouse — the animal

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