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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. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. bass — the fish
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. mark — a trace
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. board — to get on
  7. charge — in control
  8. mark — a grade
  9. board — a committee
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. charge — electricity
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. stand — to bear
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. charge — a price

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