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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 120 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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. scale — size or range
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. season — of the year
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. suit — to fit
  10. rock — a stone
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. rock — music
  13. hand — help
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. bass — the fish
  16. bass — low music
  17. suit — clothes
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. suit — in cards
  21. scale — in music
  22. hand — in cards
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. season — to add flavour

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