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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.

Make a worksheet

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: tube · fork · ball · jam · bass · kick · hide · net

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  10. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  11. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. fork — a garden tool
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. fork — to eat with
  7. net — after costs
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. kick — a thrill
  10. fork — in a road
  11. kick — in football
  12. tube — a container
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. net — in sport
  15. bass — low music
  16. ball — a dance
  17. kick — with a leg
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. net — for catching
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. ball — a great time
  24. tube — the underground

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