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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: content · club · can · bass · rock · staff · wound · foot

  1. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  14. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. rock — a stone
  4. can — a tin
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. rock — music
  7. club — a group
  8. staff — employees
  9. bass — the fish
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. bass — low music
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. club — for golf
  14. content — videos and posts
  15. can — a tin
  16. content — the amount
  17. staff — employees
  18. club — for dancing
  19. can — to be able to
  20. wound — an injury
  21. foot — a measure
  22. content — happy
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. staff — a stick

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