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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.

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: pitcher · bay · bass · present · chest · bank · arm · bound

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  23. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. present — the time now
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. bound — tied together
  6. bound — obliged
  7. chest — of your body
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. bank — of a river
  10. bass — low music
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. present — a gift
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. bound — certain
  18. bank — for money
  19. present — there
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. bank — for money
  22. chest — a box
  23. chest — of your body
  24. bass — the fish

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