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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. rush — hurry
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. track — a song
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. bass — the fish
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. wake — a trail
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. track — to keep track
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. track — a path
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. lie — to recline
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. bass — low music
  22. fine — all right
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. bowl — a dish

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