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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: file · rush · leaves · bay · bass · field · bowl · wave

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. file — a tool
  3. file — a line of people
  4. bass — the fish
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. bass — low music
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. field — farmland
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. field — for sport
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. file — a document
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. rush — hurry
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. field — a subject

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