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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. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. fine — all right
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. mate — a friend
  6. board — to get on
  7. bass — the fish
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. mate — to breed
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. bass — low music
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. fine — high quality
  21. mate — a partner
  22. board — a committee
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. fine — a penalty

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