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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 116 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 ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. There's no middle ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. track — a path
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. pop — music
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. ground — a position
  8. track — to keep track
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. track — a song
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. pop — to visit
  16. pop — soda
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. rush — hurry
  20. ground — crushed
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. bass — low music
  24. bass — the fish

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