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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. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. can — a tin
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. charge — a price
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. can — a tin
  7. bass — low music
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. dip — to sink
  13. bass — the fish
  14. snap — to click
  15. charge — electricity
  16. season — of the year
  17. can — to be able to
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. plane — a tool
  20. charge — in control
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. season — in sport
  24. dip — a sauce

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