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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. season — in sport
  3. charge — electricity
  4. charge — a price
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. squash — to crush
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. ball — a dance
  9. bass — the fish
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. firm — a company
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. firm — decided
  18. charge — in control
  19. firm — steady
  20. season — of the year
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. squash — the sport
  24. ball — a great time

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