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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. march — the month
  3. charge — in control
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. lie — to recline
  7. bass — the fish
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. mate — to breed
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. hand — help
  13. march — music
  14. firm — a company
  15. bass — low music
  16. firm — steady
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. charge — a price
  19. hand — in cards
  20. mate — a partner
  21. march — the month
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. mate — a friend
  24. charge — electricity

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