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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: spell · firm · mark · wind · bass · suit · bay · key

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. wind — moving air
  3. spell — magic
  4. wind — to turn a key
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. suit — clothes
  8. bass — the fish
  9. firm — steady
  10. spell — a short time
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. key — for a lock
  13. wind — moving air
  14. firm — decided
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. mark — a grade
  17. suit — to fit
  18. mark — a trace
  19. spell — letters
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. suit — in cards
  22. bass — low music
  23. key — the most important part
  24. firm — a company

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