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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. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. wound — an injury
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. swing — in golf
  5. rush — hurry
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. rock — a stone
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. rock — music
  18. wound — an injury
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. swing — to play on
  21. wound — past of 'wind'
  22. date — the fruit
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. bowl — a dish

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