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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. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. key — in music
  5. key — the most important part
  6. mug — a face
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. pit — in a race
  9. key — for a lock
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. bass — low music
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. ground — the earth
  15. ground — a position
  16. mug — a cup
  17. fine — all right
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. ground — crushed
  20. fine — high quality
  21. mug — to rob
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. pit — a hole

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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