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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 fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. net — in sport
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. staff — employees
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. bass — low music
  8. net — for catching
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. staff — employees
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. date — the fruit
  14. mug — to rob
  15. mug — a face
  16. bank — for money
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. bank — for money
  21. net — after costs
  22. mug — a cup
  23. bank — of a river
  24. staff — a stick

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