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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. bass — the fish
  3. bank — for money
  4. fall — to drop
  5. cap — of ice
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. fall — the season
  8. bulb — for light
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. key — for a lock
  13. bass — low music
  14. key — the most important part
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. rush — hurry
  19. cap — a hat
  20. foot — a measure
  21. bank — of a river
  22. fall — to drop
  23. bank — for money
  24. cap — a lid

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