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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: scale · rash · bound · bay · swing · suit · bear · lash

  1. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. David sat on the ________________.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. scale — size or range
  4. suit — to fit
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. swing — to play on
  7. rash — hasty
  8. bear — the animal
  9. bound — certain
  10. bound — obliged
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. suit — in cards
  17. swing — in golf
  18. rash — a series
  19. bear — the animal
  20. scale — in music
  21. bound — tied together
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. suit — clothes

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