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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.

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: suit · bay · racket · shower · plane · arm · bass · land

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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. bass — the fish
  3. shower — to wash
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. shower — rain
  6. bass — low music
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. land — ground
  11. suit — to fit
  12. land — a country
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. suit — in cards
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. land — to come down
  17. suit — clothes
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. shower — a meteor shower
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. plane — a tool

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