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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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. track — a song
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. mark — a grade
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. bass — the fish
  8. toast — bread
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. game — a match
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. mate — to breed
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. bass — low music
  15. track — to keep track
  16. game — wild animals
  17. track — a path
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. mate — a partner
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. mark — a trace
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. mouse — the animal

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