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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. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. can — to be able to
  3. bound — certain
  4. firm — steady
  5. face — part of the head
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. mine — for digging
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. can — a tin
  10. bass — low music
  11. bass — the fish
  12. face — to confront
  13. face — to point toward
  14. firm — decided
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. can — a tin
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. bound — obliged
  20. bound — tied together
  21. firm — a company
  22. mark — a grade
  23. mark — a trace
  24. leaves — of a tree

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