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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. bass — the fish
  4. ball — a dance
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. bass — low music
  10. ball — a great time
  11. mark — a grade
  12. chair — to sit on
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. stand — to bear
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. foot — a measure
  20. chair — a professorship
  21. mark — a trace
  22. chair — a leader
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. mine — for digging

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