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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 ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. bass — the fish
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. spring — the season
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. deal — to handle
  9. rest — a break
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. lean — thin
  13. rest — what's left
  14. bass — low music
  15. spring — of water
  16. lean — to bend
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. toast — bread
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. spring — a coil

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