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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
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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. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. lie — to recline
  4. can — to be able to
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. bass — low music
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. ball — a dance
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. can — a tin
  13. deal — to handle
  14. can — a tin
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. bass — the fish
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. wave — of the sea

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