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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. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. court — of a king
  2. ball — a great time
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. court — of law
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. scale — in music
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. ball — a dance
  9. bass — the fish
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. bass — low music
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. drill — a practice
  15. drill — the tool
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. scale — size or range
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. court — for sport
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. drill — army training
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. stand — to bear

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