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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. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. plane — a tool
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. board — a committee
  6. mark — a grade
  7. pop — music
  8. pop — to visit
  9. key — in music
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. key — for a lock
  12. pop — soda
  13. current — of water
  14. board — to get on
  15. current — electric
  16. key — the most important part
  17. mark — a trace
  18. bass — the fish
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. current — happening now
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. plane — in geometry

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