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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.

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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: wound · bay · bulb · dip · bass · cue · net · squash

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. net — for catching
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. squash — the sport
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. bass — low music
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. squash — to crush
  9. cue — a hint
  10. bass — the fish
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. wound — an injury
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. cue — a signal
  17. wound — an injury
  18. cue — for pool
  19. bulb — for light
  20. dip — to sink
  21. net — in sport
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. net — after costs

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