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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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. mug — to rob
  5. bass — low music
  6. row — a line
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. mug — a cup
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. rush — hurry
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. stock — shares
  14. row — to paddle
  15. kick — in football
  16. bass — the fish
  17. stock — goods
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. mug — a face
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. kick — with a leg

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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