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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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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. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. season — in sport
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. bass — the fish
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. can — to be able to
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. mate — a partner
  11. mate — to breed
  12. toast — bread
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. can — a tin
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. season — of the year
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. can — a tin
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. mate — a friend
  24. bowl — a football final

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