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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. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — for baseball
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. bass — the fish
  4. pitch — completely
  5. bound — obliged
  6. bat — the animal
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. current — happening now
  13. bound — certain
  14. bass — low music
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. bound — tied together
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. branch — a division
  19. bat — in an idiom
  20. current — of water
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. current — electric
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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