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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. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. ball — a dance
  7. key — the most important part
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. charge — in control
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. charge — a price
  16. ball — a great time
  17. bass — the fish
  18. key — for a lock
  19. charge — electricity
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. key — in music
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. bass — low music

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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