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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. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. deal — to handle
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. season — of the year
  8. bass — low music
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. bass — the fish
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. mate — a partner
  15. mate — to breed
  16. fine — high quality
  17. pit — in a race
  18. season — in sport
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. mate — a friend
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. fine — all right
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. mouse — the animal

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