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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. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. David sat on the ________________.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. bass — low music
  4. swing — to play on
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. key — in music
  8. swing — music
  9. mug — to rob
  10. mug — a cup
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. bass — the fish
  14. key — for a lock
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. swing — in golf
  18. key — the most important part
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. sharp — clever
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. mug — a face

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