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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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. charge — a price
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. charge — in control
  6. bass — low music
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. ball — a dance
  11. charge — electricity
  12. pass — a permit
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. ball — a great time
  19. bass — the fish
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. game — wild animals
  22. foot — a measure
  23. game — a match
  24. toast — bread

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