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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 116 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 president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. pound — for dogs
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. mark — a grade
  5. mark — a trace
  6. firm — a company
  7. bass — the fish
  8. squash — the sport
  9. bass — low music
  10. pit — a hole
  11. ball — a great time
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. pound — a weight
  15. ball — a dance
  16. pit — in a race
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. perch — the fish
  20. firm — decided
  21. pound — to hit hard
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. firm — steady

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