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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: toast · face · mug · bass · sharp · jam · content · root

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. content — the amount
  4. mug — to rob
  5. bass — low music
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. bass — the fish
  8. root — the cause
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. face — to point toward
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. sharp — clever
  14. face — to confront
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. root — of a word
  17. toast — bread
  18. mug — a cup
  19. mug — a face
  20. content — happy
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. face — part of the head
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. root — of a plant

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