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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: track · lean · bass · nail · board · bay · spell · mark

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. lean — thin
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bass — low music
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. track — a path
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. spell — magic
  12. mark — a grade
  13. board — to get on
  14. mark — a trace
  15. track — a song
  16. bass — the fish
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. track — to keep track
  20. spell — a short time
  21. lean — to bend
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. board — a committee
  24. spell — letters

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