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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: bass · trunk · dip · key · jam · craft · mate · arm

  1. Have you found your soul ________________?
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a partner
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. bass — the fish
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. craft — boats
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. dip — to sink
  8. craft — a skill
  9. mate — to breed
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. key — in music
  15. bass — low music
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. mate — a friend
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. key — the most important part
  24. key — for a lock

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