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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 120 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. can — a tin
  4. dip — to sink
  5. bass — low music
  6. rock — music
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. rock — a stone
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. can — to be able to
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. deal — to handle
  16. can — a tin
  17. foot — a measure
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. bass — the fish
  24. mouse — the animal

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