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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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. can — a tin
  5. bass — low music
  6. pop — music
  7. can — to be able to
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. charge — a price
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. cue — a hint
  12. branch — a division
  13. bass — the fish
  14. rock — a stone
  15. pop — soda
  16. cue — for pool
  17. cue — a signal
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. charge — in control
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. charge — electricity
  23. pop — to visit
  24. can — a tin

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