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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.

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: bay · foot · spell · bank · ruler · mug · bass · band

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. band — a ring
  3. spell — a short time
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. bank — for money
  6. mug — a cup
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. spell — letters
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. band — a music group
  12. bass — the fish
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. spell — magic
  16. mug — a face
  17. bank — for money
  18. bass — low music
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. foot — a measure
  21. mug — to rob
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. bank — of a river

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