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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. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. Have you settled on a ________________?
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. deal — to handle
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. dip — to sink
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. rush — hurry
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. season — in sport
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. bass — the fish
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. season — of the year
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. date — the fruit
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. rush — a thrill

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