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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. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. David sat on the ________________.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. track — a path
  3. tube — the underground
  4. cue — for pool
  5. track — to keep track
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. bass — low music
  8. swing — to play on
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. swing — music
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. bass — the fish
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. cue — a signal
  15. tube — a container
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. cue — a hint
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. track — a song
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. swing — in golf

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