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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. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. mark — a grade
  3. ball — a great time
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. object — an aim
  6. wake — a trail
  7. object — to protest
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. track — a path
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. track — a song
  15. bass — the fish
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. track — to keep track
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. ball — a dance
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. object — a thing
  24. mark — a trace

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