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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. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. root — of a word
  3. mark — a trace
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. bulb — for light
  8. present — there
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. present — a gift
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. bulb — for light
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. mark — a grade
  17. bass — the fish
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. root — the cause
  21. root — of a plant
  22. bass — low music
  23. present — the time now
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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