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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. chair — to sit on
  6. wax — to grow
  7. bass — low music
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. fine — all right
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bass — the fish
  15. bulb — for light
  16. game — a match
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. game — a kind of play
  20. fine — high quality
  21. chair — a leader
  22. game — wild animals
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. chair — a professorship

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