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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 coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. mug — a face
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. ball — a dance
  5. swing — music
  6. root — the cause
  7. swing — to play on
  8. stand — to bear
  9. ball — a great time
  10. present — a gift
  11. mug — a cup
  12. root — of a plant
  13. mate — to breed
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. mate — a friend
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. root — of a word
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. present — there
  20. mate — a partner
  21. mug — to rob
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. present — the time now
  24. fan — a supporter

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