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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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. rash — a series
  3. bass — low music
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. march — music
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. firm — decided
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. bass — the fish
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. march — the month
  17. firm — a company
  18. vault — a safe
  19. firm — steady
  20. rash — hasty
  21. bulb — for light
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. stand — to bear

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