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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. bass — the fish
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. can — to be able to
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. mine — for digging
  8. can — a tin
  9. fine — all right
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. dip — to sink
  15. toast — bread
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. bass — low music
  21. stand — to bear
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. fine — high quality
  24. mine — an explosive

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