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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. object — to protest
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. bass — low music
  10. rest — a break
  11. object — an aim
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. branch — a division
  14. stand — to bear
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. sharp — clever
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. bass — the fish
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. rest — what's left
  22. rest — what's left
  23. foot — a measure
  24. sharp — exactly

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