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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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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: mouse · cabinet · nail · hand · bore · can · bay · bass

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. hand — help
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. can — a tin
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. can — to be able to
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. bass — low music
  11. bass — the fish
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. can — a tin
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. bore — to drill
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. hand — in cards
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. bore — to tire

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