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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 116 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
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: degree · can · bass · pound · bear · content · dip · prune

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  20. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. content — the amount
  4. pound — to hit hard
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. degree — temperature
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. pound — a weight
  10. can — to be able to
  11. bass — low music
  12. bear — the animal
  13. can — a tin
  14. degree — an amount
  15. prune — to trim
  16. dip — to sink
  17. degree — from a university
  18. can — a tin
  19. content — videos and posts
  20. pound — for dogs
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. content — happy
  23. bear — the animal
  24. prune — to trim

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