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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. bass — the fish
  3. plane — a tool
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. ball — a great time
  7. ball — a dance
  8. bass — low music
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. pop — to visit
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. pop — soda
  14. bound — certain
  15. lie — to recline
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. bound — tied together
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. bound — obliged
  24. pop — music

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