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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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. mug — a cup
  3. suit — in cards
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. suit — clothes
  7. mug — to rob
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. suit — to fit
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. plane — a tool
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. mug — a face
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. bass — low music
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. bass — the fish
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. racket — for tennis

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