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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.

Make a worksheet

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: racket · arm · firm · rush · bass · bay · mug · file

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. file — a document
  4. mug — to rob
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. rush — hurry
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. mug — a face
  9. bass — the fish
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. bass — low music
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. firm — a company
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. firm — steady
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. firm — decided
  21. file — a tool
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. mug — a cup

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