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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. bass — the fish
  3. pound — to hit hard
  4. pound — a weight
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. scale — size or range
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. lie — to recline
  11. bulb — for light
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. pop — to visit
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. bass — low music
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. scale — in music
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. pop — soda
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. pop — music

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