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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 120 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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. ball — a great time
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. pit — in a race
  5. ball — a dance
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. cap — of ice
  8. pit — a hole
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. cap — a hat
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. bass — the fish
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. charge — a price
  17. fine — high quality
  18. cap — a lid
  19. charge — electricity
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. bass — low music
  22. fine — all right
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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