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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 116 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. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. scale — size or range
  3. bass — the fish
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. present — there
  6. present — the time now
  7. current — of water
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. scale — in music
  10. bass — low music
  11. present — a gift
  12. can — to be able to
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. current — electric
  18. current — happening now
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — a tin
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. pitcher — a jug

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