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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: bass · cell · scale · season · chip · lie · root · jam

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. He was locked up in a ________________.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. season — in sport
  4. root — the cause
  5. root — of a plant
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. root — of a word
  9. season — of the year
  10. cell — in biology
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. cell — a phone
  14. lie — to recline
  15. scale — size or range
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. bass — the fish
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. bass — low music
  20. cell — in a prison
  21. scale — in music
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. chip — for betting
  24. chip — to eat

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