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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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Word bank
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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. He was locked up in a ________________.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in a prison
  2. season — in sport
  3. spell — magic
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. bass — low music
  6. cell — in biology
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. spell — a short time
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. bass — the fish
  11. ball — a dance
  12. current — of water
  13. cell — a phone
  14. ball — a great time
  15. current — electric
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. spell — letters
  18. season — of the year
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. current — happening now
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. temple — a place of worship

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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