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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 116 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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. lie — to recline
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. net — for catching
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. net — after costs
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. mug — a face
  9. mug — a cup
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. net — in sport
  15. mug — to rob
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. rock — music
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. bass — the fish
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. rush — hurry
  24. bass — low music

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