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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.

Make a worksheet

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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Word bank
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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. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. squash — to crush
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. bass — the fish
  7. spring — of water
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. spring — the season
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. spring — a coil
  12. fine — high quality
  13. fine — all right
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. perch — the fish
  16. bass — low music
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. squash — the sport
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. squash — the vegetable

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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