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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. The ball is in your ________________.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. roll — a list
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. court — of law
  7. bass — low music
  8. court — for sport
  9. spell — letters
  10. bore — to drill
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. bore — to tire
  13. fine — all right
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. spell — a short time
  16. spell — magic
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. bass — the fish
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. roll — a cake
  24. court — of a king

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