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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. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  24. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. bound — tied together
  3. bound — obliged
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. bass — the fish
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. march — the month
  10. cue — a hint
  11. bass — low music
  12. prune — to trim
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. prune — to trim
  15. cue — a signal
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. bound — certain
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. mug — a cup
  20. cue — for pool
  21. mug — to rob
  22. mug — a face
  23. march — the month
  24. march — 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