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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 fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. fine — high quality
  5. mug — a cup
  6. mug — to rob
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. prune — to trim
  10. prune — to trim
  11. mug — a face
  12. bass — low music
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — to be able to
  15. season — in sport
  16. can — a tin
  17. season — of the year
  18. foot — a measure
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. fine — all right
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. pit — a hole
  24. pit — in a race

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