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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: mouse · calf · suit · file · bass · sharp · mate · lie

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. file — a line of people
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. sharp — clever
  5. bass — the fish
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. file — a tool
  11. suit — in cards
  12. mate — to breed
  13. mate — a friend
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. suit — to fit
  16. mate — a partner
  17. suit — clothes
  18. bass — low music
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. file — a document

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