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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
468
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: object · bear · bay · craft · mark · pop · face · bass

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. mark — a trace
  3. face — to point toward
  4. mark — a grade
  5. object — to protest
  6. pop — to visit
  7. face — to confront
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. bear — the animal
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. pop — music
  12. pop — soda
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. bass — the fish
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. craft — boats
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. bear — the animal
  20. face — part of the head
  21. bass — low music
  22. object — an aim
  23. craft — a skill
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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