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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 black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. can — a tin
  3. ball — a great time
  4. charge — a price
  5. pass — a permit
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. stem — to come from
  9. ball — a dance
  10. bass — the fish
  11. land — to come down
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. land — a country
  14. charge — in control
  15. land — ground
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. charge — electricity
  20. can — to be able to
  21. can — a tin
  22. bass — low music
  23. bear — the animal
  24. pass — to succeed

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