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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: bat · suit · bass · fine · staff · jam · club · rock

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  9. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  19. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. suit — clothes
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. club — for golf
  6. fine — high quality
  7. fine — all right
  8. club — a group
  9. club — for dancing
  10. suit — to fit
  11. rock — a stone
  12. bat — in an idiom
  13. staff — a stick
  14. staff — employees
  15. bass — the fish
  16. suit — in cards
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. bat — for baseball
  19. bat — the animal
  20. rock — music
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. staff — employees
  24. bass — low music

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