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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. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. present — the time now
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. mark — a trace
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. ball — a great time
  9. present — there
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. present — a gift
  12. stock — goods
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. ball — a dance
  17. mark — a grade
  18. bass — the fish
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. bass — low music
  24. stock — shares

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