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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. bass — low music
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. rock — music
  6. cue — a signal
  7. lean — thin
  8. bank — of a river
  9. lean — to bend
  10. bank — for money
  11. ball — a great time
  12. ball — a dance
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. mug — a face
  16. cue — for pool
  17. pitch — completely
  18. cue — a hint
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. bank — for money
  21. mug — to rob
  22. rock — a stone
  23. bass — the fish
  24. pitch — a sports field

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