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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 120 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 ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. The ball is in your ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.

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

Answer key

  1. court — of law
  2. bear — the animal
  3. net — for catching
  4. foot — a measure
  5. court — for sport
  6. net — after costs
  7. rock — a stone
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. row — to paddle
  11. lie — to recline
  12. net — in sport
  13. bear — the animal
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. row — a line
  18. bass — low music
  19. bass — the fish
  20. rock — music
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. court — of a king

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