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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. David sat on the ________________.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. rest — a break
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. swing — in golf
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. swing — to play on
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. swing — music
  15. toast — bread
  16. rest — what's left
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. rest — what's left
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. bass — the fish
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. bass — low 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