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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. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. mark — a trace
  5. prune — to trim
  6. bass — the fish
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. charge — in control
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. mark — a grade
  12. rock — a stone
  13. roll — a cake
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. bass — low music
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. prune — to trim
  20. charge — electricity
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. roll — a list
  24. rock — music

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