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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: leaves · date · charge · mine · mouse · bass · fine · jam

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. bass — low music
  6. bass — the fish
  7. date — the fruit
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. mine — for digging
  11. charge — electricity
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. fine — all right
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. charge — in control
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. charge — a price
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. fine — high quality

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