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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 116 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. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. scale — in music
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. mate — a partner
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. can — a tin
  7. court — of law
  8. bass — the fish
  9. board — a committee
  10. mate — to breed
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. board — to get on
  13. court — of a king
  14. mate — a friend
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. court — for sport
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. can — a tin
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. scale — size or range
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. can — to be able to

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