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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.

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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: bass · key · sharp · bay · stem · charge · pop · lie

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. charge — in control
  3. key — in music
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. sharp — clever
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. charge — electricity
  10. pop — music
  11. bass — low music
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. key — the most important part
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. pop — to visit
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. stem — to come from
  20. charge — a price
  21. lie — to recline
  22. key — for a lock
  23. pop — soda
  24. lie — an untruth

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