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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: wave · pop · bass · craft · pit · mine · arm · fine

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. pop — music
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. bass — the fish
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. pit — in a race
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. fine — high quality
  10. craft — boats
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. pop — soda
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. fine — all right
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. bass — low music
  17. pit — a hole
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. pop — to visit
  20. craft — a skill
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. mine — for digging

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