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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. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. club — for dancing
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. charge — in control
  6. bass — the fish
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. charge — electricity
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. club — a group
  13. present — a gift
  14. present — the time now
  15. charge — a price
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. stock — shares
  18. bass — low music
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. stock — goods
  21. club — for golf
  22. plane — a tool
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. present — there

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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