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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. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. branch — a division
  3. bass — the fish
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. bulb — for light
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. pitch — completely
  9. bass — low music
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. bulb — for light
  16. plane — a tool
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. cue — a hint
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. cue — for pool
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. cue — a signal

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