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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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. bass — the fish
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. bass — low music
  7. bound — obliged
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. can — to be able to
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. bound — tied together
  12. bound — certain
  13. can — a tin
  14. cap — a lid
  15. cap — of ice
  16. ball — a great time
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. can — a tin
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. cap — a hat
  24. ball — a dance

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