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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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. bass — low music
  3. object — an aim
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. rush — hurry
  6. cue — for pool
  7. rash — a series
  8. deal — to handle
  9. object — to protest
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. cue — a signal
  16. tube — a container
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. object — a thing
  20. bass — the fish
  21. cue — a hint
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. tube — the underground
  24. rash — hasty

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