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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. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. David sat on the ________________.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. key — in music
  3. swing — in golf
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. key — the most important part
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. ball — a dance
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. swing — to play on
  10. bass — low music
  11. swing — music
  12. plane — a tool
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. ball — a great time
  16. fine — all right
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. key — for a lock
  21. bass — the fish
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. fine — high quality
  24. fine — a penalty

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