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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. rule — to rule out
  3. bass — low music
  4. rest — what's left
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. bear — the animal
  15. rule — a law
  16. rest — a break
  17. bear — the animal
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. rest — what's left
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. rule — government
  24. bass — the fish

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