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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
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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: suit · tube · spring · mouse · bass · sharp · mate · pop

  1. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. bass — the fish
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. bass — low music
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. spring — of water
  8. pop — to visit
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. sharp — clever
  11. mate — to breed
  12. mate — a partner
  13. spring — a coil
  14. suit — to fit
  15. tube — a container
  16. pop — music
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. tube — the underground
  19. suit — clothes
  20. pop — soda
  21. spring — the season
  22. mate — a friend
  23. suit — in cards
  24. mouse — for a computer

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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