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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. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. can — a tin
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. can — to be able to
  7. file — a document
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. roll — a list
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. current — happening now
  12. toast — bread
  13. bass — low music
  14. roll — a cake
  15. current — electric
  16. file — a line of people
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. file — a tool
  20. current — of water
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. bass — the fish
  23. can — a tin
  24. vault — a safe

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