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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. game — wild animals
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. pitch — completely
  8. game — a kind of play
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. bass — the fish
  11. game — a match
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. mine — for digging
  23. bass — low music
  24. leaves — lets stay

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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