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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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  13. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. plane — a tool
  5. row — to paddle
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. cue — a hint
  9. net — in sport
  10. net — after costs
  11. bass — the fish
  12. bat — for baseball
  13. row — a line
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. bat — the animal
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. cue — a signal
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. cue — for pool
  20. foot — a measure
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. bat — in an idiom
  23. bass — low music
  24. bass — the instrument

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