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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.

Make a worksheet

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. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. spring — a coil
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. bear — the animal
  5. roll — a list
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. spring — of water
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bear — the animal
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. spring — the season
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. bass — the fish
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. roll — a cake
  24. safe — out of danger

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