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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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. rock — music
  4. toast — bread
  5. suit — in cards
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. chair — to sit on
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. ball — a great time
  10. net — in sport
  11. chair — a professorship
  12. ball — a dance
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. rock — a stone
  15. fine — all right
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. suit — to fit
  18. chair — a leader
  19. net — after costs
  20. net — for catching
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. fine — high quality
  24. nail — for a hammer

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