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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. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. David sat on the ________________.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. band — a music group
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. club — for dancing
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. ball — a dance
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. club — a group
  13. cue — a signal
  14. swing — to play on
  15. dip — to sink
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. swing — music
  18. ball — a great time
  19. cue — for pool
  20. band — a ring
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. club — for golf
  23. cue — a hint
  24. swing — in golf

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