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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. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. kick — in football
  3. bass — the fish
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. tube — the underground
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. bear — the animal
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. bass — low music
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. kick — with a leg
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. tube — a container
  18. rock — music
  19. bear — the animal
  20. rock — a stone
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. tube — in a tire

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