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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 band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. net — for catching
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. net — after costs
  6. ball — a dance
  7. net — in sport
  8. rash — hasty
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. march — the month
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. deal — to handle
  17. march — the month
  18. rash — a series
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. ball — a great time
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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