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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: firm · jam · ball · current · arm · can · bass · bowl

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. firm — a company
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. current — of water
  9. firm — decided
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. can — to be able to
  12. ball — a dance
  13. current — happening now
  14. can — a tin
  15. current — electric
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. bass — low music
  18. can — a tin
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. firm — steady
  22. ball — a great time
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. jam — a tight spot

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