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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. bass — the fish
  3. charge — in control
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. bass — low music
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. pop — soda
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. can — a tin
  11. season — of the year
  12. can — to be able to
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. charge — a price
  15. current — happening now
  16. current — of water
  17. charge — electricity
  18. bear — the animal
  19. current — electric
  20. pop — music
  21. bear — the animal
  22. season — in sport
  23. pop — to visit
  24. bear — to put up with

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