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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. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. bass — the fish
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. can — a tin
  5. fine — all right
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. toast — bread
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. ball — a great time
  14. bulb — for light
  15. ball — a dance
  16. bulb — for light
  17. can — to be able to
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. fine — high quality
  21. can — a tin
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. rush — hurry
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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