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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. mug — to rob
  5. mug — a face
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. firm — steady
  11. band — a music group
  12. firm — a company
  13. bass — low music
  14. mark — a grade
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. prune — to trim
  17. bass — the fish
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. mark — a trace
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. prune — to trim
  23. mug — a cup
  24. band — a ring

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