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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: pop · season · calf · suit · rash · bay · bass · saw

  1. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. saw — the tool
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. suit — clothes
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. rash — a series
  7. pop — music
  8. season — of the year
  9. suit — to fit
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. season — in sport
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. pop — to visit
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. bass — the fish
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. rash — hasty
  21. pop — soda
  22. saw — the tool
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. suit — in cards

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