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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 120 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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. can — a tin
  5. bass — the fish
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. firm — decided
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. bass — low music
  11. ground — a position
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. deal — to handle
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. firm — a company
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. firm — steady
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. can — to be able to
  20. ground — crushed
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. ground — the earth
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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