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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'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. press — newspapers
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. bass — the fish
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. mate — to breed
  9. hand — help
  10. hand — part of the body
  11. game — a match
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. mate — a partner
  14. press — a publisher
  15. mate — a friend
  16. press — to push
  17. hand — in cards
  18. firm — a company
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. firm — decided
  21. game — wild animals
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. bass — low music
  24. game — a kind of play

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