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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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. suit — clothes
  3. face — to point toward
  4. pop — to visit
  5. ground — crushed
  6. face — part of the head
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. bass — low music
  9. face — to confront
  10. rock — a stone
  11. pop — music
  12. rock — music
  13. suit — to fit
  14. ground — a position
  15. dip — to sink
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. saw — the tool
  19. saw — the tool
  20. suit — in cards
  21. bass — the fish
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. pop — soda

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