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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. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. ball — a dance
  3. bass — low music
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. band — a music group
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. press — newspapers
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. band — a rubber band
  10. press — to push
  11. bass — the fish
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. chip — for betting
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. band — a ring
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. lie — to recline
  22. press — a publisher
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. ball — a great time

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