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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. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. current — happening now
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. last — to go on
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. bound — certain
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. bass — the fish
  12. last — finally
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. current — of water
  15. firm — steady
  16. current — electric
  17. bound — obliged
  18. bass — low music
  19. firm — decided
  20. firm — a company
  21. last — final
  22. bound — tied together
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. arm — part of the body

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