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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 120 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: suit · cabinet · staff · wake · bass · rush · row · bay

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. suit — clothes
  3. row — to paddle
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. suit — to fit
  6. suit — in cards
  7. staff — employees
  8. bass — the fish
  9. staff — a stick
  10. staff — employees
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. row — a line
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. wake — a trail
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. rush — hurry
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. bass — low music

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