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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: jam · key · hand · mine · bay · wave · bass · suit

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. hand — in cards
  3. suit — clothes
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. mine — for digging
  8. key — for a lock
  9. bass — low music
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. key — in music
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. key — the most important part
  21. hand — help
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. bass — the fish
  24. suit — to fit

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