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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. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. David sat on the ________________.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. net — for catching
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. track — a path
  5. track — a song
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. can — a tin
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. race — a contest
  11. can — to be able to
  12. swing — to play on
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. key — in music
  15. key — for a lock
  16. net — after costs
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. can — a tin
  19. swing — in golf
  20. key — the most important part
  21. race — humankind
  22. track — to keep track
  23. net — in sport
  24. race — the arms race

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