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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 116 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 kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  22. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. last — final
  3. cap — of ice
  4. ball — a great time
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. last — to go on
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. bass — the fish
  9. club — a group
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. pop — to visit
  12. dip — to sink
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. pop — soda
  16. club — for dancing
  17. pop — music
  18. cap — a lid
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. bass — low music
  21. last — finally
  22. club — for golf
  23. ball — a dance
  24. cap — a hat

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