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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: mug · can · land · hide · leaves · bound · scale · bass

  1. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. can — to be able to
  5. bound — tied together
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. land — to come down
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. bound — obliged
  10. can — a tin
  11. scale — size or range
  12. mug — to rob
  13. scale — in music
  14. land — ground
  15. land — a country
  16. mug — a cup
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. mug — a face
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. bass — the fish
  21. bound — certain
  22. can — a tin
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. leaves — lets stay

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