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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. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. object — to protest
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bass — the fish
  6. object — an aim
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. saw — the tool
  10. cue — for pool
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. stock — shares
  14. object — a thing
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. saw — the tool
  17. cue — a signal
  18. cue — a hint
  19. stock — goods
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. safe — out of danger

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