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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  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. suit — clothes
  2. rock — music
  3. bass — the fish
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. season — of the year
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. season — in sport
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. rock — a stone
  17. perch — the fish
  18. rush — hurry
  19. bass — low music
  20. suit — to fit
  21. suit — in cards
  22. mine — for digging
  23. mine — belonging to me
  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