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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 120 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. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. suit — clothes
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. bass — low music
  5. suit — in cards
  6. bound — obliged
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. ball — a dance
  10. rest — what's left
  11. ball — a great time
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. rash — hasty
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. rest — a break
  16. rash — a series
  17. bound — tied together
  18. bound — certain
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. suit — to fit
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. rest — what's left
  24. bass — the fish

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