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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. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. club — for dancing
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. bound — tied together
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. roll — a cake
  9. club — a group
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. club — for golf
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. bound — certain
  19. bass — low music
  20. lie — to recline
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. bound — obliged
  23. roll — a list
  24. rush — hurry

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