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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: rule · dip · bass · object · ball · squash · pitcher · key

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  13. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. object — to protest
  4. rule — to rule out
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. bass — low music
  7. key — the most important part
  8. ball — a dance
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. rule — a law
  13. rule — government
  14. bass — the fish
  15. squash — to crush
  16. key — in music
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. key — for a lock
  19. ball — a great time
  20. dip — to sink
  21. object — an aim
  22. squash — the sport
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. object — a thing

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