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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. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  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. bear — to put up with
  2. bass — the fish
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. bear — the animal
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. bear — the animal
  9. pass — a permit
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. fine — all right
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. scale — in music
  15. fine — high quality
  16. rush — hurry
  17. bass — low music
  18. scale — size or range
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. safe — out of danger
  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