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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. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. rash — hasty
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. season — of the year
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. bass — low music
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. cue — a hint
  10. present — a gift
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. present — there
  15. rash — a series
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. rush — hurry
  18. cue — a signal
  19. pass — a permit
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. season — in sport
  22. present — the time now
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. cue — for pool

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