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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 116 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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. stem — to come from
  4. bass — low music
  5. charge — electricity
  6. rock — a stone
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. bound — certain
  9. bound — obliged
  10. bound — tied together
  11. pop — music
  12. perch — the fish
  13. charge — a price
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. saw — the tool
  18. bass — the fish
  19. pop — soda
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. rock — music
  22. pop — to visit
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. charge — in control

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