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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. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. bass — the fish
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. ball — a dance
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. fine — all right
  10. perch — the fish
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. bass — low music
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. fine — high quality
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. ball — a great time
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. coach — a trainer

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