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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: roll · sharp · leaves · stick · jam · scale · bass · arm

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. bass — the fish
  3. scale — in music
  4. roll — a list
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. scale — size or range
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. roll — a cake
  16. sharp — clever
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. bass — low music
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. jam — a tight spot

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