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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 116 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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. ball — a great time
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. bass — the fish
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. bore — to tire
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. bass — low music
  11. net — in sport
  12. branch — a division
  13. pitch — completely
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. ball — a dance
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. net — for catching
  20. net — after costs
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. bore — to drill

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