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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
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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: content · key · pop · bass · spell · rush · trunk · bore

  1. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  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. pop — soda
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. content — the amount
  5. bass — the fish
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. bore — to drill
  9. pop — to visit
  10. key — for a lock
  11. key — the most important part
  12. bore — to tire
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. content — happy
  15. spell — magic
  16. bass — low music
  17. content — videos and posts
  18. key — in music
  19. pop — music
  20. spell — a short time
  21. spell — letters
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. rush — hurry

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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