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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. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. rest — a break
  3. rest — what's left
  4. rock — a stone
  5. bass — low music
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. rest — what's left
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. bass — the fish
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. mark — a trace
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. saw — the tool
  20. rock — music
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. saw — the tool
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. mark — a grade

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