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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: bay · mouse · key · pitcher · rush · arm · bound · hide

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. key — in music
  6. bound — tied together
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. bound — obliged
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. key — the most important part
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. bound — certain
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. key — for a lock
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. rush — hurry

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