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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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. saw — the tool
  3. ball — a great time
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. track — a path
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. rock — a stone
  9. tube — the underground
  10. saw — the tool
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. track — a song
  13. suit — to fit
  14. tube — a container
  15. track — to keep track
  16. ball — a dance
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. rock — music
  19. bass — low music
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. bass — the fish
  24. suit — in cards

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