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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: stick · bass · mark · ball · cabinet · root · lie · jam

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. ball — a great time
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. ball — a dance
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. mark — a trace
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. mark — a grade
  15. bass — low music
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. root — the cause
  19. root — of a plant
  20. root — of a word
  21. lie — to recline
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. bass — the fish
  24. mark — to pay attention

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