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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. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. can — a tin
  3. track — a path
  4. pop — music
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. pop — soda
  7. suit — in cards
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. track — to keep track
  10. can — a tin
  11. suit — to fit
  12. pop — to visit
  13. track — a song
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. can — to be able to
  18. suit — clothes
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. toast — bread
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. bass — low music
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. bass — the fish

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