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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. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. rest — what's left
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. rest — what's left
  6. rule — to rule out
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. pop — to visit
  9. prune — to trim
  10. pop — music
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. rule — a law
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. prune — to trim
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. bass — low music
  22. rule — government
  23. rest — a break
  24. pop — soda

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