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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. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. bound — tied together
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. bound — obliged
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. lean — thin
  9. sharp — clever
  10. firm — steady
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. firm — decided
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bass — the fish
  17. lean — to bend
  18. bass — low music
  19. firm — a company
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. bound — certain
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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