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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: bass · mug · press · cabinet · club · bay

  1. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. press — to push
  3. club — for golf
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. mug — to rob
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. bass — the fish
  8. mug — a cup
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. bass — low music
  14. mug — a face
  15. press — newspapers
  16. press — a publisher
  17. club — for dancing
  18. bay — to keep at bay

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