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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. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. rest — a break
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. bat — for baseball
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. rest — what's left
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. squash — to crush
  12. rest — what's left
  13. bass — the fish
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. bat — the animal
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. bat — in an idiom
  21. deal — to handle
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. squash — the sport
  24. calf — a young animal

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