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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 speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. wake — a trail
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. bound — certain
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. charge — in control
  7. pitch — completely
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. lean — to bend
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. bound — tied together
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. lean — thin
  16. charge — electricity
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. charge — a price
  23. bound — obliged
  24. bass — low music

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