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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. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. David sat on the ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. suit — in cards
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. current — happening now
  5. suit — clothes
  6. swing — to play on
  7. current — electric
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. bass — low music
  10. face — to point toward
  11. current — of water
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. face — part of the head
  15. pop — music
  16. swing — music
  17. stand — to bear
  18. bass — the fish
  19. pop — soda
  20. stock — goods
  21. pop — to visit
  22. stock — shares
  23. suit — to fit
  24. face — to confront

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